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MEMORIAL 



SOLICITING A 



STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. 



SUBMITTED TO THE 



LEGISLATURE OF PENNSYLVANIA, 



FEBRUARY 3, 1845, 



^°" ^ 










C/> PHILADELPHIA: 



SAAC ASHMEAD, PRINTER. 



1845. 



n a 7 



■■ 






-% \ 



MEMORIAL 



To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the Com-' 
monwealth of Pennsylvania : 

Gentlemen :■■ — I come to represent to you the condition of a numerous 
and unhappy class of sufferers, who fill the cells^and dungeons of the poor 
houses and the prisons of your state. I refer to|the pauper and indigent in- 
sane, epileptics, and idiots of Pennsylvania. I come to urge their claims 
upon the commonwealth for protection and support, such protection and 
support as is only to be found in a well-conducted Lunatic Asylum. 

I do not solicit you to be generous ; this is an occasion rather for the dis- 
pensation of justice. These most unfortunate beings have claims^ those 
claims which bitter misery and adversity creates, and which it is your so- 
lemn obligation as citizens and legislators to cancel. To this end, as the 
advocate of those who are disqualified by a terrible malady, from pleading 
their own cause, I ask you to provide for the immediate establishment of a 
State Hospital for the Insane., 

If this shall appear to some of you an untimely demand on the State 
Treasury ; and a too hastily, too importunately urged suit, I must ask all 
such to go forth, as I have done, and traversing the state in its length and 
breadth, examine with patient care the condition of ..this suffering, depen- 
dent multitude, which are gathered to your alms-houses and your prisons, 
and scattered under adverse circumstances in indigent families ; weigh the 
iron chains, and shackles, and balls, and ring-bolts, and bars' and mana- 
cles ; breathe the foul atmosphere of those cells and dens, which too slowly 
poisons the springs of life ; examine the furniture of these dreary abodes, 
some for a bed have the luxury of a truss of straw ; and some have the 
cheaper couch, which the hard, rough plank supplies ! Examine their ap- 
parel. The air of heaven is their only vesture. Are you disquieted and 
pained to learn these facts ? There are worse realities yet to be revealed 
under your vigilant investigations. The revolting exposure of men; the 
infinitely more revolting and shocking exposure of women ; with combina- 
tions of miseries and horrors that will not bear recital. Do you start and 
shrink from the grossness of this recital ? What then is it to witness the 
appalling reality ? Do your startled perceptions refuse to admit these 
truths ] They exist still ; the proof and the condition alike ; neither have 
passed away. The idiot mother ; the naked women in the packing boxes ;* 
but yet for these last, perhaps, the legal measures resorted to for their re- 
lief have been availing. Perhaps both judge and jury have interposed for 
those, some merciful change. This relief may be but temporary, and may 
disappear with the first indignant excitement which procured it ; for the ef- 
fectual, permanent remedy and alleviation of all these troubles and mise- 
ries, this appeal is now made to the Legislature of Pennsylvania ; and, gen- 
tlemen, you perceive that it is just, not generous action, I ask at your 
hands. 

* See Histories of Counties. 



- 



It cannot be forgotten that, successively in the years of 1838 and 1840, 
earnest efforts were made by benevolent citizens of the state, to procure 
for the pauper and indigent insane, the benefit of curative treatment and 
hospital protection. The gentlemen who engaged in this object, I have 
learned, spared neither time nor labour to accomplish what was justly deem- 
ed so important a work. An association of residents in Philadelphia, of 
which Thomas P. Cope, Esq., was chairman, published and circulated a 
pamphlet, written with ability, which was designed to give much valuable 
information on the treatment of insanity, &c. This was received with the 
consideration which the subject merited; and Mr. Konigmacher, of Ephrata, 
was appointed chairman of a committee, in the House of Representatives, 
to report upon the subject. This was done with eloquence and precision, 
in a document of considerable length, which was read in the House, March 
11th, 1839. Mr. Konigmacher accompanied his report with a bill, which 
passed the House of Representatives with but little opposition, and the Sen- 
ate unanimously ; but on account of financial embarrassments was not sanc- 
tioned by the executive. In 1840, a second appeal from the association of 
gentlemen before referred to, was printed and circulated at their expense. 
This pamphlet embodied a massif statistical information calculated to throw 
much additional light upon the subject. The result was, an appropriation 
by the Legislature, and the appointment of commissioners to carry forward 
and complete the establishment of a state institution. The work was shortly 
interdicted through the influence of circumstances which it is unnecessary 
to explain here. 

Meanwhile, the evil for which the wise and benevolent sought a remedy, 
has gone on to increase. Sufferings have been multiplied with additional 
cases of the malady. Many who might have been restored by timely treat- 
ment, have become, either through the violence of disease, or unavoidable 
mismanagement, hopelessly insane. Many others are fast verging to the 
same pitiable condition ; and new cases of almost daily occurrence, remind 
the beholder that a similar destiny awaits these, if no asylum opens its 
friendly shelter, and renders remedial care in season to avert the impending 
calamity. 

LYou are not solicited to commence a work of doubtful value, capable of 
producing uncertain benefits. The agej^f experiment has passed by: the 
experience of those .of your sister stated who have preceded you in this 
enterprise of mercy^. assures you that thousands, through the skilful care 
received in hospitals for the insane, have been restored to society and to 
usefulness, to reason and to happiness^ 

Beside recent and curable cases, there is yet another class, the very 
extremity and certainty of whose condition appeals most strongly and affec- 
tingly to your humane sensibilities. I mean those from whom, in all proba- 
bility, the light of reason is forever veiled : dependent, irresponsible, often 
much suffering beings, they seem from the very entireness and certain du- 
ration of their dependence, to demand a peculiar consideration. Abandon 
not these of your fellow citizens to any miseries which you can cause to be 
relieved or mitigated. 

This subject comes home to all, to every one ; on this ground all alike 
may suffer ; the rich and the poor, the learned and the uneducated, the 
young, the mature, and the aged ; from this malady none are sure of ex- 
emption ; and the often reverses of fortune teach, that none are so prosper- 
ous that they may not need to share the asylum which is solicited now to 
shelter others. 

Through the bond of our common humanity, we may become as they 
now are. Let imagination for a moment place you in their stead, or rather 
let it so place those you love, those you cherish, those who are dearer to 
you than is your own life, and then declare, if you could abandon them to 
the horrid noisome cell ; and to ignorant pauper attendants ; uninterested, 
unpaid, and reluctant nurses ; or could you yield them to the strong holds of 



the jails and prisons, there to be companions of the felon, and the thief, and 
the abased vicious drunkard : there to be abandoned to their caprices, and 
subject to their daily taunts and heartless jeers. I am not suggesting un- 
real, impossible conditions ; you can witness these scenes as I have done, 
and learn, too, corroboration of these hardships and sufferings from the un- 
willing keepers of these unfortunate men and women, who, dangerous to 
the community, through property-destroying or homicidal propensities, must 
endure this bondage till a state asylum opens its doors to receive them. 
There are some, but the number is not large, who, bound down to low views 
of the mutual obligations of man to man, and to imperfect perceptions of 
' the sublime truths of the moral law, will argue, that many, very many of 
those who are found in wretched circumstances in alms-houses and in pri- 
sons, have, by their own follies and vices, brought on themselves the calam- 
ity which henceforth casts them out from the accustomed walks of life. No 
doubt this is true ; but why should society visit upon the transgressor who 
becomes insane, a so much harsher retribution, than upon the transgressor 
who retains his senses 1 It is very well known, that by far the largest por- 
tion of those who become wholly dependent on public charity, have been 
brought to that condition either by their own indiscretion or misdemeanours; 
yet these find, the sympathy they seek, and the aid they solicit ; for them 
an appropriate home is often provided, and. their necessities are bountifully 
administered to. There is yet another view of this subject. 

Suppose the insane in many cases to have wrought their own ruin, shall 
man be more just than God ] Does he not send his sun to shine upon the 
evil and unthankful, as upon the obedient and the good 1 Again, is it not 
to the habits, the customs, the temptations of civilized life and society, that 
we owe most of these calamities 1 Should not society, then, make the com- 
pensation which alone can be made for these disastrous fruits of its social 
organization 1 Concede this, and I do not know how it is to be evaded, and 
your course of action is made plain by a duty not to be mistaken^ Econo- 
my, justice, humanity, and mercy, that attribute of the Deity, combine to 
direct your deliberations and determine your judgment. 

Of the fifty-eight counties m this state, twenty-one contain poor-house 
establishments; and the remainnig thirty-seven sustain their paupers by 
annual distribution in families, who receive them at " the lowest rate for 
which they are bidden." ; I think it may be conceded, that, in the majority 
of cases, defective as is the poor-house supervision for the insane, they are 
more comfortable, or rather, often less borne down by the accumulation of 
their sufferings in these institutions, than in private families, where every 
arrangement is interfered with, and from which all quiet is banished?} Few 
have skill to control the furious, or to manage the refractory ; and not many 
have that patient endurance which is tested to the utmost in the care of ex- 
cited insane persons. 

Next after private families and poor houses, the insane will be found in 
the jails and penitentiaries. On this subject, the opinion of some of your 
jurists has been so explicitly declared, that I feel it but justice to the cause 
to give this expression of their sentiments place here — justifying the sen- 
tences of insane convicts to prisons, on the undeniable ground of necessity, 
" inasmuch as there is no State Hospital." 

" Philadelphia, March 5, 1839. 

" The want of an asylum for the insane poor, often occasions painful em- 
barrassments to the courts, when the defence in a criminal charge is in- 
sanity fully sustained in proof. Although the jury may certify that their 
acquittal is on thaf ground, and thus empower the court to order the prisoner 
into close custody, yet that custody can be in no other place than the com- 
mon prisons, places illy qualified for such a subject of incarceration. We 

1* 



■ 



6 



cannot doubt that the ends of justice would be greatly promoted, if such an 
asylum as the petitioners contemplate were established with proper regula- 
tions, and the courts were authorized to commit to it persons acquitted of 
crimes on the plea of insanity." 

(Signed,) Edward King, James Todd, 

Archibald Randall, J. Bouvier, 

J. Richter Jones, R. T. Conrad, 

Judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions. Judges of the Criminal Sessions. 

I fully concur in the above representation. 

Calvin Blythe, 
Judge of the Twelfth Judicial District. 

It is believed that all the judges of the courts of the commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, having criminal jurisdiction, would coincide in the above 
opinion. From many I have had the most direct personal assurance to that 
effect. 

Passing from the prisons, &c, we perceive that in the state, are at pre- 
sent two established hospitals or asylums for the Insane — not including that 
populous department of the Philadelphia Alms-house^ which is called the 
Alms-house hospital for the Insane. The Asylum at Frankford, about six 
miles north of the city, and established by the Society of Friends, in May 
1817, and which can receive about fifty patients, and the Pennsylvania 
Hospital for the Insane^ west of the Schuylkill, nearly two miles from the 
city, have been severally established by the humanity and munificence of 
private individuals, chiefly citizens of Philadelphia. These two institutions 
are almost constantly filled to their utmost capacity ; or when vacancies 
occur by the recovery and removal of patients, they are shortly filled by 
others, whose distressed friends seek for them the benefits which these in- 
stitutions are so well calculated to secure. The latter asylum, which is 
under the superintendence of Dr. Kirkbride, can receive but about two 
hundred patients with their attendants, so that we find a very large num- 
ber whose recent attack, or the violence of the malady, make peculiarly the 
subjects of judicious hospital treatment, altogether without the means of 
relief. The only provision, therefore, and this made by individual benefac- 
tions, for the insane of the large state of Pennsylvania, is found in the im- 
mediate vicinity of the commercial capital. Far and wide, over an extent 
of hundreds of miles, from east to west, and north to south, are large num- 
bers of your citizens declining into irrecoverable insanity through the want 
of an institution which it now depends upon the legislature of Pennsylvania 
to establish on a broad and secure foundation. 

It is not expected, it is not asked, that, at this time, you should make am- 
ple provision for all the insane of the State. If, at this period, you build a 
hospital to. receive recent cases, and such as may still be judged capable of 
restoration ; if you will take from your prisons such as are there most un- 
righteously imprisoned, you will accomplish an amount of good which ex- 
ceeds computation ; a good that will reach to and bless succeeding genera- 
tions ; and, at some more prosperous period in your financial concerns, you 
may be able to complete what now you commence upon a moderate and 
limited plan — that is to say, you may establish as many institutions as the 
wants of a populous country, and the consequent dependence and maladies 
of a portion of the community require and will demand. 

The importance of timely remedial treatment is obvious. The opinion 
of all the intelligent medical men in Pennsylvania, and throughout the 
Union, supports this view. An illustration of the advantage of seasonable 
care, considered merely in reference to economy, is exhibited in the appen- 
dix, by tables drawn from the returns of some of the hospitals in our own 
country. This question, so clearly demonstrated by these, needs no addi- 
tional argument, yet it may be gratifying to read several brief extracts from 



the annual reports of several of the hospitals for the insane in the United 
States. 

" The importance of early treatment," says Dr. Awl, " cannot be too 
strongly urged." 

Dr. Ray, of the Maine State Asylum, repeats this in his annual reports 
with strong emphasis, and his opinion must have weight wherever his name 
is known. 

Dr. Butler, of the Hartford Retreat for the Insane, writes in his report 
for 1844 — " The results of the early commitment of the cases of insanity to 
the curative appliances of this and similar institutions, present a most con- 
vincing evidence of its good policy as well as of its humanity. They justify 
us in expecting that, of cases, where the duration of disease has been lesa 
than one year, from eighty to ninety per cent, will recover ; where it has 
existed from one to five years, from twenty to thirty per cent. ; from five to 
ten years, about twelve per cent. ; and when of longer duration, not more 
than five per cent. Delay in applying the appropriate treatment, rapidly 
diminishes the chances of recovery." 

Dr. Kirkbride, of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, writing of 
the importance of early treatment for this class of patients, says, in his re- 
port for 1842 : " Not a month elapses that we do not have to regret that 
some individual is placed under our care after the best period for restora- 
tive treatment has passed. The general proposition that truly recent cases 
of insanity are commonly very curable, and that chronic ones are only oc- 
casionally so, may be considered as fully established, and ought at this day 
to be every where understood ;" and again in another year's report, the same 
truth is still urged. " It cannot be too earnestly impressed upon those 
whose friends are afflicted with insanity, that all experience goes to prove 
that, in its earliest stages, it is generally curable, and that every week it is 
left without treatment goes to diminish the prospect of 'restoration" 

Dr. Luther V. Bell, whose professional experience and high intellectual 
ability give authority to his opinions, writes as follows in his report fo: 
1843-'44: — "In regard to the curability of insanity in its different manifes- 
tations, there can he no general rule better established than that this is di- 
rectly in the ratio of the duration of the symptoms.' 1 '' 

In the twenty-third annual report of that branch of the Massachusetts 
General Hospital, known as the McLean Asylum for the Insane, near 
Charlestown, Mass., Dr. Bell again refers with clearness and precision to 
this subject. " The records of the asylum justify the declaration, that all 
cases certainly recent, that is, whose origin does not directly or obscurely 
run back more than a year, recover under a fair trial. This is the general 
law, the occasional instances to the contrary are the exceptions." In this 
opinion, Dr. Ray, of the Maine Hospital, concurs. 

The directors of the Ohio Lunatic Asylum remark, in their third report, 
that "the importance of remedial means in the^rs^ stages of insanity, can- 
not be too strongly impressed upon the public mind." 

Dr. Chandler, superintendent of the New Hampshire x\sylum, says, in 
the report for 1843, that " it is well established that the earlier patients are 
placed under curative treatment, in hospitals, the more speedy and sure is 
the recovery." 

Dr. Brigham, superintendent of the New York State Asylum, writes as 
follows, in his first report of that institution : " Few things relating to the 
management and treatment of the insane, are so well established as the ne- 
cessity of their early treatment, and of their removal from home in order to 
effect recovery. There are exceptions, no doubt. By examining the re- 
cords of well conducted lunatic asylums, it appears that more than eight 
out of ten of the recent cases recover, while not more than one in six of 
the old cases are cured." 

Dr. Rockwell, of the Vermont State Asylum, says, in his report for 1841, 
" It will be seen that a far greater proportion of recent cases recover than 
of those which are of long standing. It is very desirable that the Insane 



8 

should be placed under curative treatment in the early stages of the dis- 
ease." 

In Dr. Awl's fifth annual report, I find the following- remarks : " We ex- 
ceedingly rejoice that it is now a settled policy with the citizens of Ohio, 
to make abundant provision for the reception of every insane patient, whe- 
ther male or female, rich or poor, curable or incurable. Public safety, 
equity, and economy, alike require that this should be so." 

" Fearful as is the disease of insanity, the experience of this and other 
institutions of the United States, has clearly shown that, with seasonable 
aid, it is by no means an incurable disease. That, under proper medical 
and moral treatment, a large proportion do perfectly recover. And of 
those who are absolutely incurable, a vast number can always be greatly 
improved, and made comfortable and useful. In our judgment, it is entire- 
ly wrong to consider a certain class of incurables as harmless, and proper to 
be discharged from the institution, because it 'does not seem dangerous to 
the peace of the community that they should go at large/ This cannot cer- 
tainly be known, either in or out of the asylum : neither can a bond afford 
any proper security to the public ; for the peaceable and inoffensive are 
easily excited, and it is possible for the most imbecile lunatic to take life or 
fire a city. It is also certain that they must all receive attention, and have 
a being somewhere in the land ; and a majority of them at the public ex- 
pense. We therefore unhesitatingly conclude that the only safe and cor- 
rect course, either for the insane themselves, or for their friends and society, 
is to provide ample accommodations for them, when there will be opportu- 
nity for every one to experience comfort and relief." - 

Dr. Brigham, speaking of the benefit of labour for the insane, especially 
in the open air, adds that " incurable cases, instead of being immured in 
jails, and in the town and county-houses without employment, where they 
are continually losing mind, and becoming worse, should be placed in good 
asylums, and have employment on the farm or in shops. In this way they 
would in general be rendered much happier, and some would probably re- 
cover." " A broad distinction should be made between the sane and the 
insane poor, as regards providing for their comfort. The former may have 
in a good county poor-house most essential comforts, provided the insane 
are not kept in it ; but the insane themselves, unless they have an especial 
care in reference to their disordered minds, have little or none." 

Quoting again from the report of the physician of the asylum at Colum- 
bus, showing the benefits of hospital treatment, we read : " It is now five 
years since this great enterprise of humanity was opened to the unfortunate 
and afflicted in the State. During this period four hundred and seventy- 
three insane persons have been committed to the care of the institution. 
Two hundred and three have recovered the right use of their reason, and 
returned to their friends ; eighteen were discharged, improved in various de- 
grees of mental and physical health, and a large proportion of the remain- 
der have been reclaimed from wretchedness and suffering-, from filth and 
nakedness, from violence which caused apprehension and danger, and from 
anguish and melancholy, which could only be exhibited in silence and in 
tears." 

Dr. Kirkbride remarks, in his report upon the Pennsylvania Insane Hos- 
pital for 1842, the great importance of bringing patients under early cura- 
tive treatment, and first, in regard to its economy : 

" The economy of subjecting cases of mental derangement to proper 
treatment, immediately upon the occurrence of an attack, has not been gen- 
erally understood, or no State would have neglected to make adequate pro- 
vision for the early care of all who were thus afflicted. There can be no 
question, but that every community not having within itself the proper 
means, would save largely by sending their recent cases to some well con- 
ducted insane hospital, and retaining them there, as long as there was a 
prospect for their restoration. If this was done, a large proportion of them 
would, in a few months, be restored to society, instead of continuing as is 



9 

now too apt to be the case, a charge to their friends or the public, during 
the remainder of their lives. 

" This is not merely conjecture ; by referring to the register of this in- 
stitution, I find that the actual average cost of supporting the first twenty 
successive cases that were discharged cured — from the time of their admis- 
sion till their return home, was only fifty-two dollars and fifty cents each — 
while in the first twenty incurable cases that were received in this house, 
at the same rate of expense, from the time of the commencement of the 
disease till 1841, the average cost of each to their friends, was three thou- 
sand and forty-five dollars. And in the published reports of the Massachu- 
setts State Hospital, it is shown from positive data, that the actual cost to 
the public of maintaining twenty-five consecutive cases of recent insanity 
till their restoration, was only fifty-six dollars each, while the cost in the 
same number of chronic ones, already averaged nineteen hundred and three 
dollars and sixty cents each. 

" The expense in the one instance, is only for a few months, when the 
individual returns to the care of his family or business ; in the other, it is a 
support for life, often a long one, and, not unfrequently, if the individual be 
the head of a family, the support of a family in addition." 

From allusions made on the first pages of this memorial, to the inappro- 
priate, unjust, and sometimes barbarous treatment of the insane poor, it will 
be expected that I shall sustain assertions by evidence. I have, therefore, 
prepared from my note book, some account of the condition in which I have 
found the poor-houses, jails, and prisons of the Commonwealth, during more 
than four months laborious journeyings, devoted to inquiry and investiga- - 
tion. I describe those establishments as I found them. The sane paupers 
in the poor houses, almost without exception, are well and liberally provi- 
ded for. The insane, almost without exception, are inappropriately and in- 
judiciously situated. This is not so much the fault of these establishments, 
as their misfortune. Poor-houses never can be made suitable places for the 
reception of, and treatment of, the insane. Of the six well-directed county 
prisons in the United States, Pennsylvania has the honourable distinction of 
containing three, and these I consider established on the best system ; but 
not suitable in any respect as asylums for mad-men and mad- women. Your 
State penitentiaries, of which I shall shortly take occasion to write more at 
length, are conducted as they are established, upon the best system human 
wisdom, and justice, and humanity, has yet devised. But the penitentiaries 
were not planned and built as hospitals, where the physical maladies of the 
insane should find remedial and appropriate treatment ; nor can they 
with due regard to the discipline and regulations to which they are subject, 
be thus occupied. One does not know how to employ mild terms, in touch- 
ing upon the shameful injustice of sending maniacs, who for years have been 
known to labour under this distressing malady, to prison. " To do justly 
and love mercy is better than sacrifice ;" and, gentlemen, to redress these 
many grievances may be your beneficent and noble work. 

In Mr. Konigmacher's report for 1839, the number of idiots and insane in 
this Commonwealth, is represented as " at least twenty-three hundred." Of 
these, it was supposed " that at least one thousand were in county prisons 
and poor-houses, the residue being supported on their own resources, or 
upon private charity." 

The results of my direct personal inquiry show that there are large num- 
bers who are not in prisons or poor-houses, whose condition is yet more de- 
plorable : I mean those who are supported by the towns and counties, scat- 
tered in families who consent to receive them at the lowest rates. But the 
result of my investigations, generally, is shown in the notes on the coun- 
ties. I will only add, that a portion of the whole number of insane and idi- 
ots are beyond the reach, unhappily, of medical treatment. For them, a 
comfortable care is all that can be asked, or that can be availing. 

The Lancaster County Jail is a substantial and somewhat extensive 
structure, built of limestone, but the plan is very defective, affording small 



10 



opportunity for classifying or separating- the prisoners. Of the thirty-one pri- 
soners seen there in July and the first of August, three were insane, and 
four were females. Some of the jail rooms were nineteen feet by twenty, 
and ten high, often insufficiently ventilated by opening the windows. The 
area of the exercise yard covers two-thirds of an acre. The allowance of 
food is one pound of bread per day, with as much water as they choose. If 
they can afford to purchase other articles of provisions it is permitted, but 
these they work for themselves in the jail. I saw no beds — three blankets 
are allowed to each man. The punishments are fetters and collar — no soli- 
tary cells except the dungeons below, which are damp, and I believe dis- 
used altogether. Here I was informed the prisoners are sometimes detain- 
ed for months, waiting trial, without employment — left to idleness, that 
nurse of crime, and to evil communications, which corrupt the juvenile of- 
fender, and plunge yet deeper into ignominious habits, the old transgressor. 
If it were the deliberate purpose of society to establish criminals in all that 
is evil, and to root out the last remains of virtuous inclination, this purpose 
could not be more effectually accomplished than by incarceration in the 
county jails, as they are, with few exceptions, constructed and governed. 
What can be expected of a system which not only condemns criminals to 
companionship, but to the most absolute idleness? Neither work nor books, 
neither counsels- nor cautions, find place in the jails of our country. The 
State penitentiaries are, for the most part, carefully disciplined, and there 
are some appliances to heal the moral diseases which corrode the soul and 
debase the man ; but society, with a strange inconsistency, first establishes 
the disease, first inflicts the wound, first imbues the whole heart and mind 
with evil — and then, with Christian zeal, hurries with the spiritual physi- 
cian to the sin-sick victim, and finally marvels that so few cures of the dis- 
ease crown these benevolent efforts ! as if bad habits confirmed, and pollu- 
tion become familiar, were now to be eradicated and purified by a few 
months, or even years, of care and restraint. It is respectfully suggested 
to those interested in this subject, to visit successively the Moyamensing 
Prison, in Philadelphia ; the County Jail of Chester county, at West 
Chester ; and the Dauphin County Jail at Harrisburg ; and then, the Alle- 
gheny County Jail at Pittsburgh ; the Erie County Jail at Erie ; and the 
Lancaster County Jail at Lancaster; and they can make a fair and full com- 
parison between a good system and a bad system ; between wholesome reg- 
ulations and vicious influences ; between institutions which are an honour 
to the morals and intellect of a community, and establishments which are a 
disgrace to both. In two or three particulars it would be unjust and untrue 
to rank Lancaster jail with the jails at Pittsburgh and Erie, as T saw them 
all ; the former was clean, a term which in no possible mode or manner 
could apply to the latter. The officers of the former were sensible of the 
great defects of the system, and of the demoralizing influences, especially 
upon young offenders ; those of the latter, apparently, cared nothing at all 
about the matter. In the former, religious teaching sometimes broke in upon 
the corrupting conversations of the prisoners ; in the latter never. The 
jailor of the Lancaster Prison was very desirous that employment should be 
introduced as a part of the prison system, and was ready to promote such a 
change. He also remarked that while he took such care of the insane as 
the system and the bad architectural arrangements of the prison permitted, 
yet it was not possible to render them comfortable or to protect them from 
the other prisoners, who were disposed to make sport of them, to teaze and 
irritate them to the utmost, and, if possible, to promote quarrels and fight- 
ing. For the insane in prisons, is no State Hospital needed 1 

Lancaster County Poor-House, founded in 1799, and since increased 
by the addition of a hospital, is well-built, and well-situated, with an excel- 
lent and well-conducted farm attached, and a hospital, constructed of brick, 
for the invalids, the sick, and the insane. Besides these are numerous out- 
buildings commodiously planned, and adapted to the convenience of carrying 



11 

forward the household labour, as a bake-house, smoke-house, milk-house, wash- 
house, &c. &c. The recorded number of poor maintained here during the year, 
from May, 1843 to 1844, has afforded a constant average of two hundred and 
fifty-four paupers per month, exclusive of three hundred and seventeen way- 
faring persons who received supper, lodging and breakfast during the year 
— seventy-eight cases of out-door relief are recorded, at a cost of eight hun- 
dred and thirty-four dollars. The salary of the steward is four hundred dol- 
lars ; that of the clerk two hundred and seventy-five ; and that of the ma- 
tron, or hospital nurse, who has the sole charge of that department, which, 
at the time of my visit, contained one hundred and fifteen, being more than 
half the paupers of the establishment, and forty- six of these insane, is 
ninety dollars. The salary of the steward is sufficient ; that of the clerk 
ample; that of the matron altogether below the half of what would be a 
just compensation for the various very responsible and difficult duties requi- 
red of her. Her cares are never diminished or intermitted, and as she 
gives all her time and strength faithfully to the work, if some deficiencies 
are apparent she cannot be censured. By means of pipes, from a never- 
failing source, ample supplies of water are conveyed into both the hospital 
and main building. Both these establishments are extremely neat, and well 
conducted, excepting only the lunatic department, and that the defective ar- 
chitecture of the building prevents in no small measure. 

The estimated number of insane in Lancaster county, five years since, 
was rather more than one hundred. I have not been able to arrive at any 
certain result by which the present number can be estimated, but intelli- 
gent physicians, whose practice extends over a considerable territory, believe 
there are not fewer than one hundred and fifty. So little benefit has been 
derived from the gathering of the insane into the poor-house hospital, which, 
in this county, has some uncommon advantages, that, according to the esti- 
mate of a skilful physician, there were but five recoveries in ten years, or 
but one recovery in every eighty-two patients. About half the patients last 
August, had the liberty of the premises ; others were confined in their cells 
or to the wards, and a few were ranging a small enclosure called the exer- 
cise yard. This miserable place was utterly comfortless, exposed and in- 
convenient. The hot sun beat down upon the unconscious or half conscious 
patients. With bare head exposed to the direct and burning rays, they 
strayed round the small area, or lay extended upon the ground. Not a tree 
even shaded the place, and one almost felt that it was but an additional evil, 
that they were permitted to be abroad, exposing them to the sun or the tem- 
pest, the drought, the heat, or the cold, according to the season. Here were 
no competent " care-takers," except the matron : her assistance and author- 
ity were necessary in all Cases, directing and superintending the feeble and 
the recovering paupers. These, who were employed as attendants and 
nurses, unskilled in the management of the insane, " did what they could," 
but not what was needed. " I do most earnestly desire the establishment 
of a State Hospital," said the excellent and benevolent physician — " the in- 
sane cannot be fitly treated, either morally or physically, in a poor-house." 
And again one writes, " the establishment of a State Hospital will be one 
of the noblest monuments to the humanity of our State, and to the justice 
and philanthropy of the Legislature who move in it. I hope all hearts and 
heads will unite in promoting this good and Christian work." 

The forty-four cells for the insane in the hospital, are four feet by seven, 
and twelve high ; though something better than those occupied a few years 
since, and intended to have been much better, they are so amazingly defec- 
tive that, at the first survey, one is forced to exclaim at the attempt to oc- 
cupy them at all. They are very small — mere closets ; some are not ven- 
tilated, some not lighted, and very ill-arranged indeed. Several of the very 
violently excited patients were in apartments below, which should rarely if 
ever be used for such purposes. " Chains and hobbles" were in constant use 
here, and though I know it has been the benevolent design of official per- 



12 



sons to improve the condition of the insane poor, by a considerable recent 
addition to the hospital, it is a lamentable failure ; and the error of judg- 
ment, apparent in the plan and execution of the work, is much to be regret- 
ted. In fine, here, as in most poor-houses, is much expense, accompanied, 
so far as the insane are considered, by very unsatisfactory results. This is 
not said in a censorious spirit, but to prove that the true want is not yet 
supplied. 

York County Jail, at York, was clean. There is attached, a spacious 
exercise yard, surrounded, like most of the prison yards throughout the 
State, with a lofty wall. The usual results of prison companionship were 
apparent here. I found the prisoners promiscuously associated, men and 
women — some in the yard, others in the apartments ; none employed, ex- 
cept, as I think, a female prisoner. There was one insane man who had 
been, that very day, sentenced for horse-stealing, to the Eastern Penitentia- 
ry. Of this man, Dr. Haller, whose name is a voucher for this history, 
wrote to the warden of the prison, as follows : " Of his insanity, there can 
be no doubt. I have had him as an insane patient, in our county hospital, 
nine years since. You may rest fully assured, that there is no disposition, 
on his part, to play the crazy man. When much excited, he is rather dan- 
gerous. Your physician will find him a fair subject of the insane wards 
of your institution." 

York County Alms-house and Hospital, with the contiguous build- 
ings, make a handsome appearance. The farm is one of the best in the 
county, and contains one hundred and forty-three acres of cultivated land, 
and two hundred and twenty-one of woodland. The whole establishment 
can accommodate three hundred. August 3d, 1844, there were one hun- 
dred and one men, women and children ; of these, there were twenty-five 
idiotic and insane males and females. There is a school for the chil- 
dren and religious services every Sabbath. Order and good manage- 
ment, were apparent throughout the establishment. As at Lancaster, the 
apartments were clean, and furnished with excellent beds and bedding. 
They were alsolremarkably well ventilated..; The buildings are of brick — 
the main house was erected in 1805 ; the hospital in 1828. It is two sto- 
ries high, commodious, with spacious rooms and lofty ceilings. These last 
are especially important in poor-houses and hospitals, where the apartments 
often become crowded at the approach of winter ; and thus, through want 
of pure air, much sickness is induced. The cells for the insane, are in the 
basement of the hospital. They are fourteen by ten, and ten feet high. 
The windows are grated, three by four and a half. Grating over the doors, 
three by one and a half feet. The passage is seven feet wide. In winter, 
warmed by a stove, and pipes conducting near all the cells. The entire 
length of the hospital is ninety feet. The breadth, forty. Supply of wa- 
ter, ample. Provisions wholesome and sufficient. Comfortable as are the 
insane here, by comparison with most of this class in poor-houses, though 
some wear chains and hobbles, the physician writes of them as follows : 

" They receive all the medical attendance that can possibly be rendered 
to their situation, but in consequence of the want of sufficient apparatus, and 
the superintendence of prudent and judicious persons, the recoveries are 
few ; not more than two or three per annum, and those confined to recent 
cases, where the exciting cause can be plainly understood from those who 
accompany the patient to the institution. The establishment of a State 
Asylum would be a matter of economy to all the counties, whether they 
have poor-houses, hospitals, or not. It would be the means of restoring 
thousands of honest poor citizens to their senses, and their families, who 
otherwise might have lingered out a horrible existence in filthy cells, or in 
chains and misery. 7 ' Such is the opinion of not only the physician of York 
county-house, but of all intelligent medical men in the State. Estimated 
number of insane and idiots in York county, about one hundred. 

I found the Jail in Adams County in a miserable condition. It is an 



13 

old, ill-constructed stone building 1 , a good deal out of repair, and I should 
think in winter, could hardly be made comfortable. The prisoners sleep 
upon the floor, on straw beds, and are allowed as many blankets as they 
need, according to the season. The county allows twenty cents per day for 
their board, but for the insane twenty-five cents. They have three meals, 
which are cooked for them ; meat usually three times a day. Their wash- 
ing is done by the family. The students from the Theological Seminary 
give religious instruction on Sundays, both at the jail and poor-house. I was 
there in August, and found several prisoners, some about the premises, others 
in the large exercise yard. Here also was an insane man — or one whose 
mental faculties had been defective from birth — yet he had been capable of 
various employments at his father's house, and reached manhood without 
giving 1 any alarm so serious as to make his removal a prudential measure. 
He was subject to paroxysms, and often difficult of control. One day, 
without any apparent motive, he entered the house with an axe, and delib* 
erately approached one of the farming men, who was sitting- with his back 
towards the door, and at one blow split his head open. This shocking mur- 
der inspired the family with the utmost apprehension. He was removed to 
the jail, as dangerous to be at large, about four years since, and there I 
found him loaded with chains ; a ring about the ankle, was connected by a 
sort of hinge, to a long, stout iron bar, reaching above the hips, and to this 
the iron wristlets were attached. In the jail, his condition was pitiable ; 
but if at large, neither life nor property would be secure. The only fit 
place for such, is in a well regulated hospital. The marvel is, that he was 
not, as scores of other crazy men have been, consigned to a State prison. A 
young girl, very insane, had not been long removed from the jail, where 
she was loaded with heavy chains, and endured all the exposures and suffer- 
ings incident to a situation in all respects so unsuitable. At times she was 
very violent. Estimated number of insane and idiotic in the county, from 
forty to fifty. 

The County Poor-House at Gettysburg, is about a mile from the cen- 
tre of the town. Early in August I found it not in good repair. There 
were from ninety to a hundred inmates, chiefly foreigners. The farm con- 
tains one hundred and fifty acres, is well stocked and well cultivated. 
There is an ample supply of water : the health of the family is generally 
good ; the physician attends two or three times weekly, and oftener if ne- 
cessary. There is a school for the children, and preaching- every Sabbath. 
Bibles, Testaments, and some other books, are liberally supplied. The 
keeper appeared competent to the performance of his difficult duties; and 
interested, so far as he had knowledge, in the good condition of the estab- 
lishment. The hospital is not so well constructed or arranged as the main 
building. There were eleven crazy and idiotic patients. In the basement 
are three " crazy rooms," very fitly named, eight by eight, and eight high. 
There are also two cells, four by nine, and six by nine, in the cellar. They 
are unventilated and damp, the floors are wood, and they are lighted by an 
aperture one and a half by one, and barred with wood. These dens can be 
partially warmed. The insane are very improperly situated, though two of 
the females, apart from the rest, were in more comfortable rooms. There 
was rTo wilful neglect, and no means for promoting cure. Chains and hob- 
bles used from necessity, to prevent mischief and straying, as in all the 
poor houses, with one or two rare exceptions. In well conducted asylums 
these are never employed ; neither such instruments of terrible torture as 
the ill-devised " restraining," or, as it is greatly miscalled, " tranquilizing 
chair.'''' I have seen this actually in use only in the Philadelphia Alms- 
house. They are to be found in the Frankford Asylum, but it is believed 
and hoped have fallen into deserved disuse and condemnation. 

Franklin County Jail is a large brick structure, covering a considera- 
ble extent of ground, including both wings and the exercise enclosures. 
The cost of this prison was thirty thousand dollars. The occupied apart- 

2 



14 



rnents I found clean and exceedingly well ventilated. The prisoners have 
no employment, except to cook their own meals and wash their clothes. 
They receive an allowance of one and a quarter pounds of bread per day, 
and a pound of meat. There were seven prisoners early in August. As 
usual, all ages, colours, and degrees of offenders are associated ; but the 
women in this jail, are in a separate portion of the building. Here is no 
religious instruction ; but the sheriff sometimes lends books and newspapers 
to those who can read. The jail yard is surrounded by a wall about twen- 
ty feet high, built of stone. A pump of excellent water affords the means 
of thorough cleanliness. The cook room is about sixteen feet square. The 
prisoners sleep, as is common in a majority of the jails, on thejloor, a cus- 
tom which, for cleanliness sake, should be speedily done away. Each is 
furnished with a straw bed and blanket. It is a singular fact that one of 
these prisoners was born in the county jail. The ill-disposed mother either 
educated him to vice and misdeeds, or left him exposed to associates, whose 
example he was quick to imitate. He has but little sensibility to crime or 
its consequences. Imprisonment has no terrors or hardships for such as he. 
In jail, he rejoins familiar companions, whose tastes and habits are like his 
own. Here, supported without labour, and engaged in rehearsing to each 
other the exploits of which it is their delight to boast ; they delineate, in 
glowing colours, every unruly and desperate enterprise. These, together 
with games within, or athletic sports in the yard, constitute a life not bur- 
dened with trials, and under the feeble restraints of which they qualify 
themselves anew for evil deeds. In this wise are educated, at the public 
cost, in county jails, the lawless depredators upon society ! 

The Franklin County Poor-house, near Chambersburg, contains on an 
average about one hundred paupers. There were eighty the first week in 
August. There is no school, and no provision made for the instruction of 
the children. There is preaching every other Sunday. The farm contains 
one hundred and eighty-eight acres, and is productive. The out-buildings 
are numerous and commodious. The supply of water, from springs and 
running streams, is ample and unfailing. Such of the inmates as are able, 
assist at the farm and household labour ; but it was evident that here more 
competent help was needed, especially within doors. The mistress lias al- 
together too much care. The main building is ninety feet by fifty. It is 
divided into rooms of good size, pretty well ventilated, clean and in order. 
All are comfortably furnished, especially with beds and bed-clothing ; but 
this is a creditable distinction of nearly every poor-house in Pennsylvania, 
including also general cleanliness. A rough-cast building across the yard, 
of good and convenient size, is appropriated to the coloured people. The 
hospital, on the opposite side of the main building, is seventy-five feet 
by thirty-two. The rooms are about nine feet square. The arrangements 
here are incomplete and not convenient. The only exercise ground for 
such of the insane as are not allowed to range the premises, is a small yard 
about thirty-five feet by thirty four, surrounded with a high stone wall. 
Here is no description of shade or shelter. Nothing worse could be con- 
ceived or planned, if the idea of increasing the comfort of these poor crea- 
tures was embraced in it. 

Beside idiots and epileptics, there were fourteen insane, who require con- 
stant care, and under the arrangements which exist here, this is a most ar- 
duous task. I found one man chained, for his own safety and that of others, 
in one of the rooms of the hospital. He was not at that time much excited 
but liable to furious paroxysms. The history was a sad one, but has many 
parallels. One insane woman was chained near a fire-place, into which 
she has a fondness for creeping, and there remains much of the time. 
There was straw in a box near by, where she could sleep ! 

Some cells, formerly appropriated for the insane, and in every respect 
unfit to be occupied, are now chiefly disused. I could not learn with any 
probable accuracy, the number of insane and epileptics in the county ; but 



15 

the poor-house contains more than enough of this class of sufferers to af- 
ford substantial reasons for providing speedily a more appropriate asylum ! 

Bedford County Jail at Bedford, is a brick building, containing five 
rooms of good size, which need white-washing ; there is a good exercise 
yard, surrounded by a brick wall twenty feet high, through which the pri- 
soners, at some leisure times, have once or twice escaped. The law re- 
quires the jailer to furnish one pound of bread per day, and as much water 
as they want ; but the present officer gives them three meals per day, and 
meat at two of them — the family doing the cooking and also the washing. 
No moral or religious instruction is given at the jail ; but the sheriff lends 
Bibles and books of his own. At the time of my visit there were no pri- 
soners, the last having taken the keys, which were inadvertently hung with- 
in their reach, and set themselves at liberty. 

Bedford County Poor House has been established less than three years, 
it has a farm of six hundred and sixty-six acres, only a small part of which 
is under cultivation. The superintendent's house is built of brick, and is 
comfortable and commodious. In it is the kitchen and eating-room for the 
paupers, who live in a house some hundred yards distant. This very in- 
convenient and bad arrangement ought to be changed without loss of time. 
The poor house proper, is a rough-cast building, two stories high, sixty-five 
feet by twenty-eight. It is not well planned, and secures neither separa- 
tion nor classification. There were thirty-three inmates, one idiotic, some 
sick, and no person residing in the house to superintend or nurse them. 
There is no provision for the insane, though one woman had been kept here 
for a time. The experiment was very unsatisfactory to all parties, and the 
husband concluded to take home the mother of his children, " and try to 
get along by managing somehow." Of the insane in the county at large, I 
could learn but little, and nothing certain in regard to numbers. Probably 
there are not more than thirty who are insane and idiotic. 

The poor-house was not clean, and not well furnished. It is not good eco- 
nomy to purchase second hand furniture for poor-house establishments, even if 
it was best on other accounts. Much allowance must be made for what is 
defective in this institution, from the fact of its recent establishment, and 
the consequent inexperience of those who are concerned in directing and 
conducting it ; time and care may remedy these defects. The house is not 
visited for imparting religious instruction ; no school at present is needed ; 
the medical attendance is good. 

Somerset County Jail, at Somerset, is an old stone building ; I found it 
clean, and the prisoners decently clothed. Here were three insane men ; 
all were in the exercise-yard ; one was heavily chained. One had been in 
the jail six years, another one year, and the third eleven months. The mo- 
ther of one had sent him by the stage driver some fruit ; this he appeared 
to care less for than to go to his mother. " I must go, I must go," he con- 
tinually repeated. " I can't stay, I must go, I must go." In justice to the 
jailer and his wife, I must say that these insane men were taken care of 
kindly, and as far as they knew how and had the means, faithfully. The 
difficult and often hazardous task was not neglected at the expense of the 
sufferers. But here was no form of treatment to advance recovery and mit- 
igate paroxysms. The jail rooms were all open, affording access to the ex- 
ercise ground. In one apartment I found a man and woman ; they had been 
tried for adultery, were found guilty, and sentenced to the county jail — one 
for six months, the other period I do not recollect. What moral benefit was 
derived by either the prisoners or the community by this, neither separate or 
solitary confinement, I leave others to determine ; but I think that a law pro- 
hibiting indiscriminate association of the male and female prisoners cannot 
be^-tpo soon promulgated and enforced. 

JIhere is no poor-house in Somerset county, but those who are incapable 
of self-support are distributed in the towns, amongst those persons who 
agree to take them at the lowest rate. In some instances, I learned that 



16 



they fared well ; in many others, neglects and suffering, especially with the 
aged and helpless, were of frequent occurrence. Humanity and economy 
unite to recommend the establishment of well-planned and well-regulated 
poor-houses generally. Except in a densely populous county, county-houses 
are much to be preferred to town houses. 

I learned from the commissioners' office in Somerset, that in 1840, the esti- 
mated number of idiots, epileptics, and insane, in this county, was seventy-six. 
I heard of a good many recent cases, and was told that it was probable the pre- 
sent number was not less than one hundred. After all this is somewhat conjec- 
tural. A portion of these are supported by the towns, but the largest part by 
their friends, and often under circumstances of great trial and affliction. Some 
are met wandering about the country, owing their subsistence to the cha- 
rity of those at whose houses they casually stop. The needed meal is 
cheerfully bestowed, and the torn and tattered garment of the poor way- 
farer is often replaced by one that is whole and clean. I am persuaded that 
no observing person can travel over this state, throughout its length and 
breadth, and not be inspired with increasing respect for the social virtues of 
the people. I could detail numerous touching examples which have fallen 
immediately under my own notice, of a kindly care for the sick and suffer- 
ing ; of poor persons removing from one place to seek, perhaps, a more ad- 
vantageous situation for work ; of wandering, neglected, crazy men and 
women — the last no uncommon sight — and of little orphan children, receiv- 
ed and cherished with a liberal and kind spirit : — not always do the inhabi- 
tants give of their abundance, but of their penury they share with those who 
have less. 

Near Stoystown may be found a young woman violently, I fear irrecov- 
erably insane. The case is not of recent origin. The parents are poor — 
and under most painful circumstances, amidst many difficulties they manage 
to take care of her at home. For a time, worn out by her violence and de- 
structive propensities, they allowed her to range the county. Often was 
she exposed, without clothes and pinched with hunger. Those who found 
her thus, would bestow a garment and give necessary food for that day, but 
the poor demented creature might be seen the next, unclothed and hungry. 
At this time the father receives aid from the town ; but it is for such cases 
as this poor girl exemplifies, that hospitals are peculiarly needed. ! - How can 
a family of children, as in this case, be properly managed, when continually 
witnessing the vagaries and improprieties of the insane girl ; and what is 
yet worse, of listening to demoralizing language.^ Many citizens in Somer- 
set county expressed, very earnestly, their desire for the speedy establish- 
ment of a state hospital. 

Westmoreland County Jail, at Greensburg, is built of stone, and is 
tolerably commodious but very insecure, the safe keeping of the prisoners 
depending more upon the vigilance of the jailer than the strength of the 
prison. The rooms were clean, could be well ventilated, and were furnish- 
ed with cot-bedsteads, clean blankets, and decent benches or chairs. At the 
time of my visit there were but two prisoners, one, an insane man, very 
difficult of control, and very dangerous and violent at times. He was alto- 
gether unmanageable at home, and public and private safety made it a duty, 
in default of a hospital, to place him in the jail. 

Westmoreland County has no poor-house ; the poor are distributed 
where they can be most cheaply supported. The number of the insane 
could not be satisfactorily ascertained. I heard of various suffering cases 
of crazy persons, and of idiots and epileptics, through medical practitioners. 
I encountered one on my way from Greensburg, who was diligently em- 
ployed in destroying a hay-stack. There were only females about the 
house, and as these could not control him, he was necessarily suffered to 
finish his mischievous work. 

I regret that I cannot refer to the Jail or Fayette County, in Union- 
town, in other than terms of unqualified censure. The building is old, ill- 



17 

constructed, and out of repair. This, comparatively, is of little consequence. 
It was dirty, ill-kept and neglected. A wall, nearly twenty-five feet high, 
pla&tered within, surrounded the exercise yard. There were no criminal 
prisoners : the only occupants of the jail apartments, when I was there in 
August, were two madmen, in chains ; if the rats, of which I heard some 
intimation, are not included in the category. The men were chained and 
in separate rooms, or one in a passage, and the other in a room, apart for 
their mutual safety. I did not see their food, and know nothing of its quan- 
tity or quality. I saw no bedstead, nor any furniture. The man in the 
outer room, or passage, was somewhat cleaner than the other, but I must 
be excused from entering upon special details ; the other was covered with 
soot, and coal-dust and dirt, and was extended upon the floor, clanking his 
chains, and beating his head, shouting and singing. Here fell no ray of 
comfort, hope, or consolation. One of these men is decidedly homicidal, 
and, with the exception of a short interval, has been, I was informed, in 
prison fifteen years. On one occasion, becoming violently excited at seeing 
an intoxicated man put into his room, and possibly provoked by him, for no 
one knows how it was, he fell upon and murdered him in the most shocking 
manner. When the keeper came to visit his prisoners, a horrible spectacle 
presented itself — the murdered drunkard, mangled and lifeless : the mad- 
man exulting in the deed and covered with the blood of his victim ! He 
also when at large burned a building. 

The other man has been insane about seven years. Both are dangerous, 
and are subject to paroxysms of fury. Every person must comprehend 
something of the difficulties of taking care of the insane ; but all know, 
likewise, that humane efforts can spare them much degradation and suffer- 
ing, even in a prison. 

The Poor-House of Fayette County is a mile or two from Uniontown. 
I learned that much improvement had been made in the domestic arrange- 
ments within a few years. The superintendent and his family appeared 
much interested and desirous of performing their duty ; but the building is 
not well planned, and prevents such classification and suitable separation as 
the comfort of the inmates and propriety require. The house is too small 
for the number it receives. "*■ In August there were seventy-two inmates, 
and of these rather more than one-eighth were foreigners. The number of 
men and women were nearly equal ; there were but four children, of course 
no school. Of late no religious services, and rarely visited for the purpose 
of moral influence. Here were two deaf and dumb, four blind, and an un- 
commonly large proportion of the inmates of infirm mind, simple, idiotic, 
and epileptic. Four were violently insane, requiring chains. No suitable 
apartment in the establishment for these, even allowing the poor-house to 
be a suitable place. Something should be done at once to enable the super- 
intendent to carry out more properly the objects of the institution. A large, 
well-ventilated, well-funished building seems imperatively necessary for a 
hospital for the sick and the most infirm of the old people. At all events, 
such additions should be made that it may not be regarded as necessary to 
place numbers of aged, sick men and women together in confined, crowded 
lodging-rooms ! Considering all the difficulties of managing such an estab- 
lishment, the wonder is that it appeared so well, and this could have been only 
through a very diligent care on the part of the mistress of the house. 

Greene County Jail, at Waynesburg, is constructed of stone and is 
very strongly built ; it is small, but larger than the wants of the county 
make necessary. It is entirely unenclosed, the doors were all open, there 
were no prisoners, and I made my way towards it through a rank growth of 
stramonium and tall weeds, which sufficiently indicated the infrequent use 
of the building. The path was quite obliterated. 

In this county is no poor-house — the poor are placed with those who will 
take them at the lowest cost. The ascertained number of idiots, epileptics, 
and insane in the county, is from fifty-five to sixty, of which the largest 

2* 



18 



part are idiots and imbeciles. Two cases of cruel abuse of an insane man 
and an epileptic youth were related to me by a practising- physician. Some , 
time since, an insane man was committed to the jail on a criminal charge. 
Another is often made intoxicated at the taverns, to afford sport to the idle 
and vicious. Another still, who had been insane six years, the physician 
assured me he believed would have been perfectly cured if he could have 
had the benefit of hospital treatment. And so it is, that for the want of a 
liberal, well-conducted institution, every year increases the class of incu- 
rables, and deprives the state of useful citizens, and families of comfort and 
the means of support. 

Washington County Jail, at Washington, is a large stone building 1 , en- 
closed by a high stone wall, including an exercise yard, in which I found 
congregated the old and the young, black and white, men and women and 
babies. And besides these, charged with petty and with criminal offences, 
an insane man, whose fate it was to be associated with thieves and felons, 
" for he was crazy and not safe to be at large." He had property, the in- 
terest of which paid his expenses here, but was insufficient to meet hospital 
charges. The construction of this jail is not such as to permit much classi- 
fication. The sheriff appeared quite sensible of the disadvantages to which 
the place was subject, and said " that having but one exercise-ground, of 
course they must all be together, in the cells and out, till lock up hours." 
The grand jury, in 1842, called public attention to this subject, represent- 
ing " the propriety of so remodelling the jail-yard and the jail, that the fe- 
male prisoners may be kept entirely separate from the males." This, which 
was meeting but half the evil, was again adverted to in 1843, but it was 
added, that " having visited the jail they found the prisoners well-cared for, 
and the rooms furnished with Bibles, in accordance with recommendation." 
We fear the Bibles have been studied to little profit while so many adverse 
circumstances were allowed to warp the mind, and tempt to misconduct. 
The last presentation of the jury on this abuse, was in August, 1844, and 
still nothing was said upon the subject of classification and employment. 
I found the jail cleanly swept and aired, and some of the rooms very clean. 
The prisoners were amusing themselves with games, talking, story telling 
and such like modes of passing time and cultivating the morals. 

The County Alms-house is several miles from Washington. It is a 
large brick building, founded about twelve years since. Attached is a valu- 
able farm, of nearly one hundred and seventy-five acres. This, I understand, 
was managed to the entire satisfaction of the county officers. The house is 
not planned conveniently for the classification of the occupants. A thorough 
cleansing was in progress, and such of the inmates as were able were various- 
ly and industriously employed. There were seventy paupers, eight of which 
were children. Seven were insane. A considerable number idiotic, and 
others epileptic and imbecile. There is no school, and preaching is heard 
about once a month. The physician is rarely called ; it having been de- 
cided that " except in violent cases," the master of the house, who is an 
excellent farmer and blacksmith, should add to his various duties and pro- 
fessions, that of medical practitioner, There were four insane females in 
close confinement in August. One in a small -building, remote from the 
house, in a field. She was placed there on account of being " exceedingly 
noisy, screaming and shouting, so that nobody could rest !" A lame man, 
who I understood to be her husband, had it in charge to take her food to 
her. The room she was in was clean ; she was also cleanly and comfort- 
ably dressed, and at this time, also quiet. In a large yard, common to all 
the inmates of the establishment, was a small building, consisting of a sin- 
gle room, perhaps twelve by fourteen feet. I did not measure it. At one 
end was a door. At the opposite, a sashed window, containing twelve 
panes of glass, I think. On one side, were two windows of the same size. 
It being a hot day, two were opened, fronting the most frequented part of 
the house and yard. I looked in, as requested, and saw first a young wo- 



19 

man apparently demented, standing upon a sack of straw. At first I thought 
there was no other occupant; but a little to the right, somewhat concealed 
from view, as I was at first placed, I discovered a woman of middle age, 
seated on some straw in a packing-box — and in a state of entire nudity. On 
the opposite side of the room stood a similar box, which at first I supposed 
to be empty, but the sound of voices roused a female. She lay coiled up. 
I cannot imagine how she could have contracted herself into so small a 
space. Some straw, too, was in this box, and excepting that, she had nei- 
ther clothing nor covering of any sort or description. Nor was there any 
in the room of any kind. Wholly unconscious of exposure, these shame- 
fully neglected maniacs roved about the room, seeming to shrink, yet too 
much lost to comprehend into what bitter degradation they had fallen, and 
to what insensible guardians they were consigned. The boxes, into which 
now and then they leaped, cowering down amidst the straw, were such as 
are seen at almost every door of an English goods store. They were of 
rough board, about three feet long, by two and a half wide and deep. And 
this was here, here in Washington county, where, in 1839, it was officially 
announced, " that the insane of this county are so well provided for, that a 
strte hospital would be useless ;" and further, " the county has it in con- 
templation to fit up a building, already erected, for the crazy poor." The 
building has been fitted up it appears, and furnished, but exactly how long 
occupied I considered it of little use to ascertain ; but was told in genera! 
terms, that the unfortunate women referred to, had been in no better condi- 
tion for several years. 

That the intolerable grossness and barbarity of this personal exposure was 
neither transient nor accidental, I am assured by the concession of persons 
on the premises, and by gentlemen who had visited the poor-house by chance 
before I came to Washington. I am sorry to employ strong expressions; I 
am sorry to censure any persons ; but for this monstrous outrage on decen- 
cy and morals, I can find neither palliation nor apology. What shall we 
say] Here are boxes three feet long, indeed — a handful of straw thrown 
in. This the retreat, this the bed, without covering of any kind ; not even 
the fragment of a rag, or a torn blanket, or the very refuse of cast-off pau- 
per garments to gather about the shrinking form — the windows not shaded 
even, from the view of seventy or a hundred men, women and children, 
passing and repassing the room continually. Visitors coming and going ; 
overseers of the poor making official visits ; religious teachers at intervals; 
yet no one making it his or her business to bring about a less intolerable state 
of things. But one must turn from this subject — rather let those ponder on 
it, on whom depends the establishment of an institution that shall spare such 
scenes, and rescue from such barbarisms. I have but to add, that the week 
following my visit, the grand jury made presentment to the court, then in 
session, that these facts, communicated to that official body, were true : 
"And that we will not urge further reasons than the facts referred to. 
as in their opinion, they are sufficient to induce every person to come to the 
same opinion;" "and they do most earnestly recommend," &c. &c. I 
have not learned if the representations and recommendations made last Au- 
gust, have taken practical effect ; nor have I used any pains to learn the 
numbers or condition of the insane in the county at large. If the directors 
of the county-house can have neither desired or executed more salutary 
plans for the physical and mental treatment of the insane, than those I wit- 
nessed, after twelve years' trial, I cannot suppose so rapid progress has been 
made as to render future hospital-care unneeded, or the public interference 
and protection uncalled for, or untimely. 

Allegheny County Jail, at Pittsburg, is a handsome and costly struc- 
ture, built of stone, and stands immediately adjacent to and connected with 
the court-house. Brought into such proximity to the halls of justice it was 
but reasonable to look for corresponding advantages. 

This jail combines all the faults and abuses of the worst county prisons 



20 



in this state or in the United States. Hoping to find something redeeming 
in its earlier discipline and government, I deliberately and patiently enter- 
ed upon investigation, but the nature of the revelations these inquiries 
Drought to light obliged me to relinquish the work to those whose more 
immediate duty it is to bring about a reformation. The prison was built in 
view of the separate imprisonment, classification and employment of offen- 
ders ; instead of which, I found transgressors of all ages, colours, sexes and 
degrees, promiscuously associated : little boys listening greedily to gray- 
headed, time and crime -hardened convicts ; the youthful transgressor learn- 
ing new lessons of iniquity, from those whose vices only kept pace with 
their crimes ; here the sick were unattended, the ignorant untaught, the 
repentant (if any) unencouraged, and the insane forgotten. The area, 
stairs, and passages were unscrubbed and unswept ; the cells and beds yet 
worse, uncleansed ; and some of them perfectly intolerable through foul air 
and negligence. If it had been the deliberate purpose of the citizens of 
Allegheny County to establish a school for the inculcation of vice and the 
obliteration of every virtue, I cannot conceive that any means they could 
have devised, would more certainly have secured these results than those I 
found in full operation in the jail last August. On my second visit, 
things wore a little better outward aspect, so far as the use of the broom, 
some clean blankets, and somewhat more decently arranged apparel, were 
considered. This, the work of an hour, was to last but a day ; the visit was 
prepared for. The ample leisure of the prisoners afforded opportunity for 
various little works of skill and ingenuity for facilitating oral communica- 
tion, when by night all, or by day a part, should be locked into the cells. 
The pastime particularly referred to, was cutting the doors in pieces, or 
rather cutting such apertures through them, as in default of clairvoyance 
assisted vision and promoted a social feeling, by increasing facilities for con- 
versation. I was somewhat struck with the remark of one of the prison- 
ers, a forger, and a man of some education, though he had failed in the use 
of its advantages — " a man who comes here will lose all respect for the law, 
and for those who administer it ; and all respect for the officers and those 
who appoint them ; and he will go out indifferent to every restraint, and it 
is a chance if he does not believe himself as good as those who are instru- 
mental in bringing him here." " You may learn here," said another, " every 
thing that people outside call bad ; and you may look long enough for the 
good, and not find it at last." At one time, there had been religious teach- 
ing by preaching on the Sabbath ; but a very respectable pious clergyman 
told me he had relinquished the work from the conviction, that where evil 
conduct, through the want of a good discipline so prevailed, it was wholly 
unavailing to offer occasional instruction. Dauphin County Jail affords a 
model upon which the Allegheny County Prison can be reformed and re- 
modelled. I know, some of the most intelligent of the citizens of Pitts- 
burg, are earnest to carry out a change, which, if it be not fruitful of great 
good, shall at least not permit such an increase of positive evil. Attention 
once directed to these monstrous abuses, reformation will be certain to fol- 
low in Allegheny County Jail. 

It is a relief to turn from this to other public institutions of Pittsburg : the 
Orphans' Asylum situated in Allegheny city, is a charity which rescues 
many unprotected children from early crime, and saves some from the jail. 
This institution, so creditable to those who support it, and to the good ma- 
tron who directs it, is well ordered throughout. 

The Poor-house of Pittsburg, soon to be replaced by a more commodious 
establishment, is also in Allegheny city. I found it comfortably arranged, 
and neat. The two insane, of the fifteen inmates, were kindly looked after. 
The entire number of epileptics, insane and idiotic in this county, was com- 
puted to be not less than seventy-five and might be more. 

Allegheny County has no poor-house, but the poor in most of the town- 
ships are distributed as is customary in other counties. 



21 

Of the Western Penitentiary, I shall speak elsewhere ; but I cannot re- 
frain from saying here, that it is one of the most excellently governed pri- 
sons I have ever visited. I took sufficient time to see all the prisoners, and 
to learn the whole state of the institution. It is honourable to the county 
and state, and creditable to the warden, Major Beckham, to whose judg- 
ment and fidelity, its prosperity is mainly to be ascribed. The moral in- 
structor is greatly interested in his work and diligent in the discharge of 
his duties. Here, as is universal in the state prisons, are found the insane 
and imbecile. Some were so when committed, and in others the disease 
has been developed in prison. They are kindly treated, so far as a prison 
affords such influences for that class of prisoners ; but these never should be 
left in a prison, much less sent there while labouring under this malady, as 
I have proved beyond doubt has been the case in many instances. 

It is to be hoped that the jurisprudence of insanity will receive more 
effectual and serious consideration than it has hitherto done in this, and the 
United States generally ; excepting latterly in New York, more lately still 
in Massachusetts, and earlier than either in Louisiana. 

Beaver County Jail, at Beaver, is built of stone, and has four rooms, 
two above and two below ; there is a small yard protected by a wall twenty 
feet high. The rooms are about eighteen feet by eighteen, and nine feet 
high. The prison is out of repair, insecure, and inconvenient. The pri- 
soners were all together ; a child, the middle-aged, and the man of gray 
hairs. The boy had been committed on a charge of petty larceny, and 
probably was guilty. When he is enlarged, he will no doubt come upon the 
community accomplished in the knowledge of vice and crime. Society 
gives him this education at the free school of the county, and in acknowl- 
edgment of the obligation he will undoubtedly practice what it has taught. 
The offender against social and civil law, once committed to a jail, and 
forced upon the society of other offenders, imbibes a taste for more grave 
transgressions than he has heretofore contemplated. Here are no restraints 
that check the influence of " corrupt communications ;" here is no employ- 
ment either for the hands or the mind, helping to strengthen better habits 
and confirm better resolutions ; here is no moral or religious teacher kindly 
and seriously impressing " line upon line, precept upon precept;" here is 
no partition, separating the hardy and mature criminal from him who has 
but newly yielded to temptation ; here, in short, society seems deliberately 
to abandon its victim, giving him over to every evil work. I believe no 
better work can be done in our country than those may accomplish who un- 
dertake the establishment of a new and more just jail system. I am not 
aware that there are above six disciplined jails in the United States ; and I 
do know that most of them have trained many a convict for the penitentia- 
ries. Whether is it better to prevent disease, or leave it to be not only- 
sure in its attacks, but deadly in its consequences 1 

Beaver County has no poor-house. The poor are supported by the sev- 
eral towns, in families where they can be boarded at the lowest cost. Many 
sad accounts of the neglects and privations to which this system gives rise, 
reached me from undoubted sources. Many of the more reflecting and be- 
nevolent citizens in Beaver county, are earnest to bring about an effectual 
change, by establishing a county-house. The question has been discussed 
for some time, but in August no results had been reached of a definite char- 
acter. 

The intelligent medical men are all in favour of it ; this follows of course, 
as their profession makes them acquainted with injuries and aggressions, 
which often fail to reach the ear of those whose duty it would be to pre- 
vent their repetition. A carefully planned, well-managed county poor-house 
produces great benefits ; while the want of one often greatly aggravates 
the misfortunes and miseries of the poor |tnd infirm. 

Butler County Jail, at Butler, is old and out of repair, but well-order- 
ed. The rooms were decently furnished ; the prisoners decently clean, but 



22 



all associated, and without employment. Here was one insane man, who 
was often violent and dangerous. \ 

Butler County has no poor-house. The poor are supported as in Bea- 
ver : distributed at the lowest rates. I heard of several cases of epileptics 
and insane, through a medical practitioner ; but could not learn with any 
probable correctness, the whole number in the county. 

Mercer County Jail is in Mercer. It is a well-built structure of stone, 
said to be well kept at present. Here was an insane man, who had been 
a long time in confinement and chained. " At times he is dreadful noisy, 
and a sight of trouble," said my informant, " but we manage to get on 
pretty smoothly sometimes." 

Mercer County has no poor-house. So far as I could ascertain, there 
are from thirty to forty idiots and insane. This is probably less than the 
actual number. " Some of these wretches suffer horribly, but who is to 
help it?" was the expression of a tax-paying citizen, who gave me some 
information respecting these and the other poor. " We need a poor-house, 
and a place for the unruly crazy ones, and the mischievous idiots. They 
don't often get care fit for the brutes, unless they chance to have some hu- 
mane relation." 

Crawford County Jail, at Meadville, is very strongly built of timber, 
and though exteriorly not wearing a very finished aspect, was within, in a 
creditable condition ; being clean and decent. The food is good, well pre- 
pared, and more than sufficient, and supplied from the table of the family 
who keep the prison. Here were two prisoners, a woman in a room by her- 
self, and an insane man, whose variable and often violent state, made it dan- 
gerous to allow him liberty, unless, as at hospitals, he could be attended by 
some person understanding how to manage him. He was kept clean, 
though quite as difficult a case as that of the insane men in Fayette Coun- 
ty Jail. 

In Crawford County is no poor-house. The number of paupers is 
small. I heard of several painful cases of idiocy and epilepsy. The case 
of an idiot boy was described as claiming commiseration. He was often ne- 
glected and abused, pursued and tormented by idle boys, and had more than 
once suffered personal injury. But such events are of frequent occurrence 
in many places. The vagrant, insane and idiots are oftener teazed by the 
thoughtless and vicious, than sympathized with. It is but a few weeks 
since, an insane man, driven to frenzy by his street tormentors, threw a 
stone at random, which killed a child. 

Erie County Jail, at Erie, is an ill-planned brick building, containing 
a number of cell-rooms, floored with stone. The exercise-yard is of suffi- 
cient size, and surrounded by a lofty brick wall ; over which, however, the 
prisoners when not watched, contrive by mutual aid to effect escapes. The 
prison contained, in September, nine prisoners, in a dirty, disorderly condi- 
tion, all together, and entirely disgusting. The beds, walls, floors, win- 
dows, passages, one and the whole, appeared capable of being thoroughly 
purified only by the element of fire. The air was intolerably bad. Not- 
withstanding the hot weather, a large fire was burning in a stove, as they 
said, " to dry up the damp." This was well enough, provided the doors and 
windows had been thrown wide, but closed as they were, it made what was 
bad yet worse. It is seldom one will find a more discreditable prison. The 
sick were neglected, and all left to their own devices. Here was no moral 
or religious instruction — no employment — no books — only uncontrolled per- 
nicious intercourse. One of the prisoners was said to be insane — it was a 
more than doubtful case. It is hoped some wholesome reforms have chan- 
ged the jail in Erie before this time. 

Erie County Poor-house, a few miles out of town, is not well situated, 
nor planned to secure the classification of the inmates ; but considering the 
many difficulties always to be overcome in new establishments, and which 
experience only can effectually meet, so far as the superintendent may be 



23 

considered responsible, the house is well directed, but the cares are very ar- 
duous, and the rooms too much crowded. The buildings are not large 
enough for the numbers to be received, and there are no suitable apartments 
for the sick. I do not doubt these deficiencies will be remedied. A small 
w joden building in the yard, is divided into six cells for the insane, each 
measuring nearly five feet by nine, and about eight high. In some was a quan- 
tity of straw, and I think, bunks. They were very imperfectly lighted, not ven- 
tilated, and I cannot think that they can be either safely or sufficiently warm- 
ed in winter. It is to be hoped it will not be found necessary to occupy 
these poor cells ; I am sure they are quite unfit for any permanent use. 
There were forty-eight poor in this establishment in September, ten of 
which were children. Here were five insane, four epileptics and four idi- 
ots, several of them wholly incapable of self-care, not being able even to 
feed themselves. Estimated number of insane in the county, about forty. 
Here is no school for the children, and religious instruction as opportunity 
permitted. Benevolent persons, who have leisure, will find a field for use- 
fulness at the Erie poor-house. The burthensome cares of the superinten- 
dents, must make attention to instructing the children impossible. 

Warren County Jail, at Warren, is built of stone, is clean, and in 
thorough repair — it is creditable to those who have charge of it. There 
was no prisoner in September, but I understand that an insane woman has 
since been committed for safe-keeping. Provisions are supplied from the 
table of the keeper, when there are prisoners. The exercise yard is se- 
curely enclosed. 

Warren County has no poor-house, and not many poor entirely depen- 
dent on the public care ; yet these sometimes are subject to neglect in 
sickness, and a sad sense of homelessness, as, year by year, they are trans- 
ferred from place to place, received on such terms as at the very outset al- 
most assures much discomfort and privation. I heard of not many insane 
in this county. One female leads a life of exposure, often escaping from 
those who have taken the responsibility of caring for her. For weeks she 
frequents a desolate, deserted log house on the mountain, and when urged 
by the cravings of hunger, wanders to some farm house, where her appe- 
tite is appeased, and then disappears, returning only when driven by the 
same necessity. " She suffers a sight hi this way," said my informant ; 
" people hate to have her live so, but some are afraid of her, and some don't 
care." 

Venango County Jail, at Franklin, is constructed of stone, and large 
enough for county purposes, and ill-contrived enough to include every in- 
convenience in occupying it. There were no prisoners in September. The 
rooms had been swept the day I was there ; they needed repairs and white- 
washing, and if ever used some decent description of straw-beds and blan- 
kets ; the remnants of what time and service had destroyed, were scattered 
about. It was expected that a man in a state of violent insanity, would be 
sent there in a day or two for safe-keeping. It was not easy to conceive 
that he would be comfortable, especially if not easily managed. An insane 
person in the vicinity, lately committed suicide. It was thought, if the pa- 
tient could have had early remedial treatment, a cure would have followed. 
I heard of several interesting cases, through the physicians, whose practice 
often brings them acquainted with those maladies, and who hold but one 
opinion respecting the insane — the great importance of placing them in 
hospitals. 

Franklin County has no poor-house ; the poor are placed out at the 
lowest rates, in families who are willing to receive them for a trifling com- 
pensation. This county has but few paupers. 

Clarion County Jail, at Clarion, is a large new building, not well plan- 
ned or securely constructed. There was,_ in September, but one prisoner, 
and he was under sentence to the Western Penitentiary, for a second of- 
fence of petty larceny. The keeper here, understood remarkably, the du- 



_■ 



24 



ties of his office, and one could not but wish that his abilities might have 
a wider sphere of action. In short, that he might have the conduct of some 
one of the ill-ordered prisons which have been referred to. 

In Clarion County is no poor-house, but few paupers, and few insane. 

Jefferson County Jail, at Brookville, is poorly built of stone, and on 
an inconvenient plan. There were two prisoners in September, charged 
with murder in the first degree, of which they were found guilty, but the 
Sheriff held them in such regard that they frequently, if not always, took 
their meals at his own table. It was allowed to be " a misfortune they had 
come to, but he thought a heap of them." There is no poor-house in this 
county, and but few paupers and few insane. These, so far as I could learn, 
were kindly cared for. 

Armstrong County Jail, at Kittanning, is not in a very good condi- 
tion. I saw there, four prisoners in September. One insane, comfortable 
in apparel and general condition. Food for the prisoners was sufficient, and 
of good quality. 

There is no poor-house in this county, and but few paupers, idiots, and 
insane. 

Indiana County Jail, at Indiana, is built of stone, is inconvenient and 
ill-finished. There were no prisoners in September. It was clean, and, 
when occupied, well attended to, so far as the food and clothing of the pri- 
soners was concerned. Here is no county poor-house. The paupers, of all 
conditions, are " placed out to those who bid for them lowest." There are 
thirty ascertained cases of insanity and idiocy. These receive no special 
medical care or supervision. Several are capable of being employed, but 
those who have charge of them are unskilful in directing their labour accor- 
ding to their strength and ability. A case was lately related to me by a 
medical man, of an insane person who had been very highly excited, and 
was chained and kept in a cell. After a time, the paroxysm subsided, but 
the rigid confinement, want of air, and a constrained position, had essen- 
tially weakened the muscular fibre. In short, he was pale, emaciated, and 
feeble, but eager to be let out. The keeper promised this, if he would 
work; and, eager for enlargement, he readily promised to do so. He was 
accordingly removed from the cell, and directed to load a team with stone. 
He went to work with alacrit}? - , but soon was exhausted, and asked to rest. 
This was refused, and the command of "work, or back to your cell," pro- 
ved a sufficient incentive and terror, to urge him to the utmost through the 
day. One day more in feebleness, and with blistered and lacerated hands, 
he pursued the unequal task, then his strength altogether failed, and to the 
cell he was remanded — the master saying to him, he " was lazy and must 
pay for it." After this, the patient's faculties rapidly gave way, and he 
who might, with judicious care and prudent direction, have recovered rea- 
son and ability for a life of useful labour, is now a confirmed idiot. Em- 
ployment is highly important and useful for the insane ; but it is not less 
important that this should be assigned with judgment, proportioning the task 
to the physical strength and mental capacity. I was told in a county poor- 
house, that they did not wish to have their " crazy people carried to a hos- 
pital, for they were useful in performing for infirm and disabled persons, of- 
fices that were particularly disagreeable, and which the sane paupers could 
not be made to do. We can cure them well enough ourselves, if they will 
get well, and we need their labour." 

Cambria County Jail, at Ebensburg, is a miserable building, insecure, 
and not clean or comfortable as I saw it, so far as necessary furnishing and 
convenient arrangements were considered. One room was occupied by 
those notorious murderers, the Flanagans, and I confess I could not see 
much to impede their escape whenever it should please them to go. An 
insane man occupied a room adjacent to, and in rear of theirs, affording an- 
other example of the want of a suitable asylum. I do not doubt that, under 
fit direction, he is fully able to earn his own support. 



25 

This county has no poor house — the poor are " let out" to those who are 
willing- to accept a trifling compensation for their board. I heard of several 
cases of much suffering and neglect of the insane. One man, some miles 
from Ebensburg, it was stated, was " shut up in a very small room, rarely 
made clean, badly fed, and miserable beyond what one would easily credit, 
who is not accustomed to scenes of suffering-. 

Huntingdon County Jail, at Huntingdon, needed white-wash, scrubbing, 
and, above all, ventilation. There were two prisoners who occupied the 
same room, without employment and without moral influences. One was 
said to be insane ; I had reason to doubt this ; there might have been a 
degree of eccentricity, united with moral perversion, but the case was by 
no means clear. 

Huntingdon County has no poor-house ; but the poor are boarded with 
those who name the lowest receivable price. From the best information 
received, the idiots, epileptics, and insane, in this county, may be estima- 
ted at about sixty. The desire for a State Hospital was strongly expres- 
sed by intelligent citizens. 

I seldom refer to cases existing in private families, and never by name ; 
but there is one in Huntingdon county, so well known, and so publicly ex- 
posed, that I feel a description of his condition, as given to me by a citizen, 
will be in place here, aud serve to illustrate the fact that there are terrible 
sufferings, and miseries which call for speedy relief. On the banks of the 
canal, near the Juniata, stands a farm-house, to which the cooks of the ca- 
nal boats are accustomed to resort for supplies of milk, butter, &c. Imme- 
diately adjacent to the house is a small shanty, constructed of boards pla- 
ced obliquely against each other. Tn this wretched hovel is a man, whose 
blanched hair indicates advancing years ; not clad sufficiently for the pur- 
poses of decency; "fed like the hogs, and living worse; in filth, and not 
half covered : the decaying wet straw upon the ground, only increases the 
offensiveness of the place." In the rains of summer, and the frosts of win- 
ter, he is alike exposed to the influence of the elements. There is no fire, 
of course. There is no room for such a luxury as a fireplace or stove ! And 
there you may see him now, affording- a spectacle so miserable and revolt- 
ing, that you are thankful to retreat from a scene you have no authority to 
amend. It is but a few days since nineteen cases, from sources of unques- 
tionable authority, have been communicated to me ; some accompanied with 
solicitations to interpose in behalf of these poor maniacs, whose sufferings 
almost transcend belief. These are in private families, chiefly of humble 
circumstances ; and most of all, those who are connected with them, utter- 
ly perplexed by the trials of their lot, and ignorant how, or in what man- 
ner, to manage the refractory and violent mad-men. These all need care 
and protection in a Lunatic Asylum. They cannot elsewhere be brought 
into decent conditions, or rendered in any sort as comfortable as the lowest 
of the brute creation. 

Mifflin County Jail, at Lewistown, was ill-arranged ; dirty beds on a 
dirty floor, walls needing white-wash, the rooms, the admission of pure air ; 
and the prisoners, of which there were several, the free application of soap 
and water. 

This county has no poor-house. The poor are distributed as cheapness 
and convenience may determine. For the insane, idiots, and epileptics, 
there is no appropriate provision — they have no medical attendance, and I 
heard of no recoveries amongst the poor. Many I did not see — those who 
described them, concurred in the opinion that "something was needed for 
their help, and they thought well of a State Hospital." 

Juniata County Ja.il, at Mifflintown, contained no prisoners ; most of the 
rooms were occupied as a saddlery, being converted, " until further demand 
for the county," into work-shops and store-rooms. Not long since an insane 
woman was shut up here. She was subject to the most furious and alarm- 
ing bursts of passion, and the jailer's wife declared it her belief that she 

3 



26 



" was more ugly than crazy," but other testimony, from competent judges, 
settled the fact of her insanity, and of the danger of her being at large. 
At this time (September) she was wandering somewhere over the country, 
having escaped from the restraints of the prison. From the best informa- 
tion I could collect, one may estimate the number of idiots and insane in Ju- 
niata county at about thirty-five — most of them are incapable of employ- 
ment. There is no poor-house in this county ; the poor are distributed ac- 
cording to the prevailing usage where there is no county institution. 

Centre County Jail, at Bellefonte, contained no prisoners in Septem- 
ber. That portion of the building which was occupied by the sheriff's fam- 
ily, was in complete order, and well arranged. The jail rooms were much 
out of repair, and in all respects unfit for use till cleansed in every part. 
The condition was exceedingly discreditable to whoever had charge to 
maintain the place in decent order. One room was converted into a pigeon- 
house, and seemed also to be shared with the rats. Fortunately the county 
has little use for the jail, and this is yet more fortunate for prisoners. I re- 
gret to add, that since I was at Bellefonte, I am informed a young man, re- 
cently become insane, is incarcerated and chained in this prison, which I 
am sure, could afford no apartment tolerably decent for any living creature. 
Cases daily are related to me, which seem even more strongly than most I 
have recorded, to urge the establishment of a Lunatic Asylum and Hospital. 
Centre County has no poor-house. Some details of suffering reached 
me. The number of insane poor is computed at forty, including the idiotic 
cases. I understand many indigent families receive liberal aid from the 
more prosperous citizens, especially near Bellefonte — but much doubt was 
expressed respecting the general condition of the aged poor and sick through 
the county at large. 

Clearfield County Jail, at Clearfield, is remarkably well built, in com- 
plete order, and had no prisoners at the season of my visit. 

In this county is no poor-house, and but few paupers. So far as ascer- 
tained, the idiots and insane are fourteen, these are chiefly with their friends 
— they have no special attendance. I could hear of no recoveries ; the 
physicians related a number of cases where at one time they tried to in- 
duce the friends to adopt a remedial treatment ; but, at home, they could 
not carry this out, or thought they could not, and the patients are now con- 
sidered past cure. 

Elk County, at present, has no jail, no poor-house, and but few paupers; 
could learn nothing of the insane — doubt if there are any. 

Clinton County Jail, at Lock Haven, is a small building in temporary 
use for detaining prisoners. The two rooms are in decent order. 

In this county, is no poor-house, and not many paupers. Several cases of 
idiocy and insanity. A physician remarked that every year increased the 
number of incurables, "through want of seasonable and necessary care." 

Lycoming County Jail, at Williamsport, is constructed of stone, is well 
built, and in good order. In this county is no poor house. The estimated 
number of insane is about seventy. The paupers are set off yearly to those 
' who bid cheapest." Some are well dealt by, and others suffer great hard- 
ships." 

Tioga County Jail, at Wellsborough, is substantially built, in rear of 
and beneath the court rooms. The rooms are inconveniently constructed, 
being more suited for the secure detention of offenders, than most county 
prisons, but ill-devised in many respects. Here is no enclosed exercise 
yard, and, but for special care on the part of the jailer, prisoners subject to 
long detention, would, from dampness of the cells, suffer in health. 

Tioga County has no poor-house ; but few paupers, few idiots, and few 
insane. I saw but two of the latter class, who were subjects for hospital 
care. 

Bradford County Jail, at Towanda, is an old inconvenient building, 
gone much out of repair. Here were three prisoners in October. My visit 



27 

was made in the morning before breakfast. I found the prisoners, who had 
already arranged the apartment, and were themselves clean and neat, read- 
ing and talking in a quiet manner. I understood that the food was well sup- 
plied, three times a day, from the kitchen of the keeper. Insane persons 
have been kept in the jail — there are none at present. 

In this county is no poor-house, the old system is still followed for sup- 
porting the poor — " Let out at the lowest rates." The estimated number of 
insane and idiots is nearly twenty; there is no provision for these adapted 
to their necessities. 

One insane female wanders constantly from Troy, in Bradford county, to 
Elmira, in New York, and south returning to Williamsport. When her 
garments fail, she shows the ragged gown, and another is given by some 
kind-hearted person. She asks food only when hunger compels her to en- 
ter the way-side dwelling ; and is supposed to lodge sometimes in the woods, 
sometimes in out-buildings. She is harmless and silent. 

Columbia County Jail, at Danville, had but one prisoner early in Octo- 
ber. The jail rooms were in order. In this county is no poor-house. The 
present mode of disposing of those who become a public cost, is the same 
as in all the northern and most of the interior counties. Physicians inform- 
ed me that the insane suffered much for want of suitable care. 

Union County Jail, at New Berlin, was vacant of prisoners. It is well 
built, was clean and suitably arranged. In this county is no poor-house. 
The poor are supported as in Columbia County. The cost of supporting 
each individual was variously estimated at from forty to sixty dollars per 
annum. Of the insane, a considerable number are under the care of rela- 
tives. Their condition varies according to the forms the disease manifests, 
and the dispositions and ability of those who have them in charge. A phy- 
sician acquainted me at New Berlin, that within the limits of his own prac- 
tice, there are now six insane persons, proper subjects for an insane hospi- 
tal, and he writes " to give you some data, I inform you, that besides my- 
self, there are fifteen practitioners of medicine in the county ; all of whom 
traverse a considerable territory. We feel the want of a hospital constant- 
ly." I heard of about thirty cases of idiotic and demented persons in Union 
County, but this cannot embrace all of the class, though it may exceed the 
number strictly needing remedial treatment. 

Luzerne County Jail, at Wilkesbarre, the last week of October, con- 
tained two men and two women prisoners. There are four jail rooms, two 
above and two below. Those on the first floor are arched. All require 
whitewash, and are insufficiently ventilated. The building is of stone, and 
the exercise yard enclosed by a high wall. The construction of the prison 
is such as .to subvert discipline. The men and women, at this time, 
were in separate parts of the building, but could converse at will. The 
poor of this county are supported in the several townships, in those families 
who take them on terms most favourable to the public interest. The high- 
est estimate of the insane and idiots, of which the latter is most numerous, 
is forty-six. 

Wyoming County Jail, at Tunkhannoch, is solidly constructed, and it 
was designed not only to be well built, but upon a good plan. Great mis- 
takes have been made, and if it continues to be occupied it will be found 
absolutely necessary to make some alterations for the increased admission 
of light and air. The cells or dungeons are almost in total darkness. Of 
these, there are two, about seven feet high, and nearly ten by fifteen. The 
interior wall is eighteen inches thick. A small aperture in the door, seven 
by nine inches, admits so much light and air as can thus find entrance. The 
grates in the outer wall are nearly two feet by two. The entrance door 
which communicates with the kitchen has a small aperture opening from 
the area, and at this I found the two prisoners, amusing themselves with a 
member of the family. The supply of food is ample, and it must be owned 
that the prisoners appeared in high health. But then they were not locked 
into the dungeons. » 



28 



In this county is no poor-house, and but few who are wholly dependent 
on the public for their support. I heard of but two insane. 

Susquehanna County Jail, at Montrose, is not a very good building-. 
It was tolerably clean, and the food of the prisoners wholesome and suffi- 
cient There were but two prisoners the last of October ; one a boy, who 
was imprisoned for assault. He was passionate, and had been irritated un- 
reasonably, as he believed. He certainly needed some moral influence here, 
some instruction which should help him in future to rule his temper. 

In this county is no poor house. The estimated number of the insane is 
about thirty-five ; some of these are supported by their friends, others at the 
public cost, at the lowest prices. I heard of several very painful examples 
of severe usage. One man who, from no brutal impulse, but conviction that 
it was " the only way to tranquilize crazy people," most severely beat 'his 
own wife — whose violent conduct and language created the utmost domes- 
tic confusion. We need a State Hospital surely, for such as these. 

Wayne County Jail, is at Honesdale ; it is well built of stone, and con- 
tains four centre cells. These cell rooms are strongly finished, but defec- 
tively ventilated, and are not altogether convenient. The prisoners are 
well fed. There was but one in October. I heard of but few insane in the 
county. There are no poor-houses, but the poor are distributed through 
their respective townships. 

Pike County Jail, at Milford, is out of repair, and not very well con- 
structed. The prisoners were supplied liberally at their meals, when there 
w T ere any in detention. I found the prison vacant. There is no poor-house 
in this county, but the poor are supported as in Wayne. The ascertained 
number of insane is small. 

Monroe County Jail, at Stroudsbwg, was out of repair. There was 
but one prisoner, and he seemed imbecile ; they called him " foolish," where 
he was known. In this county the poor are supported in the several town- 
ships, as in Wayne and Pike. I heard from a physician of extensive prac- 
tice that there were several cases of insanity requiring remedial treatment. 

Carbon County Jail, at Mauch Chunk, was entirely unoccupied the last 
of October. It is not conveniently constructed in any respect, but I un- 
derstand that hitherto there has not been much occasion to use the prison- 
rooms. 

In this county is no poor-house but many poor persons. The benevolent 
inhabitants use much exertion to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and 
helpless. I heard of several cases of insanity and idiocy in the county, but 
could not ascertain that these were in particularly suffering conditions, 
though some were negligently exposed. 

Northampton County Jail, at Easton, was vacant of prisoners the first 
week in November. The apartments are clean though the prison is not 
constructed upon a good plan. At present I have understood, it is well 
kept; though being subject to the same system as nearly all the jails in the 
state it is liable to like abuses and immoralities. 

The County Poor-house, near Nazareth, and the numerous buildings 
connected with it, are in a condition highly ereditable to the town and the 
state ; so indeed, with the rarest exceptions, are all the Pennsylvania Ger- 
man poor-house establishments : well-built and liberally supported. 

The main-building at Nazareth, consists of a large stone-house, forty feet 
by ninety, and three stories high with the basement. Adjacent to this, is 
a hospital for the sick and the insane, constructed with brick, thirty feet by 
eighty, and also three stories high, including a thoroughly finished base- 
ment. There are various out-buildings, work-shops, farm-buildings, as 
barns, sheds, &c. The farm contains two hundred and fifty-five acres, all 
cleared except about five. The land is productive, and the whole well- 
managed, and- under good cultivation. Early in November, I found here 
one hundred and thirty-seven paupers— eighty-one males and fifty-six fe- 
males ; of these thirty-five were children under fourteen years of age, and 
sixteen were insane. 



29 

The master and mistress of this establishment, deserve high praise for 
their vigilance and discreet management. Such of the inmates as were 
able, were employed according to the measure of their strength and ca- 
pacity. 

A number of the idiotic and insane were in the main building, others oc- 
cupied rooms in a large wooden house, partly used for workshops, on the 
lower side of the court-yard : others again, were on the first floor of the 
hospital ; and the violent and ungovernable were in very comfortable, well 
finished rooms, of sufficient size, in the basement. To these were attached 
small exercise yards, enclosed by a high brick wall. The deficiency was 
found in the want of skilful nurses, acquainted with the care of the insane. 
.As a receptacle, this affords comforts not often found in connection with an 
alms-house, but it cannot be made a curative establishment : neither those 
medical nor moral influences can be brought together here, which the wants 
that are peculiar to insanity demand. 

One defect may be remarked of this, as of all the hospital establishments 
connected with the alms-houses, and many of which' have been built almost 
without regard to cost as this ; that at Reading, Berks county, and those at 
York and Lancaster. It is in constructing the apartments for the sick and 
infirm, and those for the insane, in such proximity as almost to insure the dis- 
turbance of those who most require quiet and repose. There are times when 
this does not seem to be a serious evil, but one can have no assurance that 
these seasons of calm may not be followed by long and distressing disturb- 
ances : cries and shrieks, which banish sleep and distract the mind enfee- 
bled by illness. 

The arguments are very strong and conclusive, which advocate the sepa- 
ration of insane patients from the poor houses. They are fitly established 
only in asylums solely appropriated to their use, adapted to their wants, and 
directed by persons whose only business is to guide and govern the affairs of 
the institution. 

One cannot but respect the motives which have prompted the county 
hospital provision for the insane ; and not the less, that it is not all which 
the good of the patients require. A State Hospital is needed to supply 
what these cannot procure — a more complete remedial treatment. 

Lehigh County Jail, at Allentown, is a large stone building, containing 
numerous rooms, but none in very good order in November. This jail is 
not so securely built, or carefully kept as to prevent escapes. The latest 
occurred the night before my visit, when the only prisoner remaining had 
effected his freedom by descending from the second story above the base- 
ment, through an opening made by a former convict into the room below, 
thence into the passage and so on through the entries past the family-rooms, 
by the front door upon the street ! He was under sentence for a larceny, 
but the imprisonment did not seem to have wrought a very salutary influ- 
ence, for he was charged with not having left the prison empty-handed. I 
understood that the food for the prisoners in this jail, and at Easton, was 
supplied from the table of the keeper. 

Lehigh County at present has no poor-house ; measures have been adopt- 
ed to establish one. The citizens very justly concluding that it is both 
more humane and more economical to build a county-house, than to support, 
as heretofore, the poor of the county by letting them out to families will- 
ing indeed to take them at the lowest rates, but not securing or giving need- 
ful care. 

The condition of the insane poor was represented as deplorable. I saw 
none in this county, but intelligent medical men concurred, as elsewhere, in 
the opinion that a hospital would be an inestimable blessing to the citizens 
of Pennsylvania. 

Schuylkill County Jail, is at Orwigsburg ; in October it contained 
seventeen prisoners, twelve men and five women. The latter were in apart- 
ments by themselves and occupied two rooms, over-heated, not ventilated, 

3* 



so 



tolerably clean, and sufficiently furnished. There were beds and bedsteads. 
They go below to receive their food, which is passed from the 'men's yard, 
on which side is the kitchen, through an aperture in the gate-door, which 
connects the two exercise-yards. Conversation is not prevented. The 
men's rooms were quite decent; the size twenty-five by eighteen, and 
twenty by fourteen. Some of the prisoners were ironed for security. They 
receive three meals per day ; the provisions sufficient in quantity and of 
good quality. No books, (except a few loaned by the keeper,) no employ- 
ment, no moral or religious instruction; ample time and opportunity for 
conversation, and corrupting companionship. 

Schuylkill County Alms-house, is well situated" a short distance from 
Schuylkill Haven ; the apartments of the main building are commodious, 
well-furnished, and kept in clean and neat order, but insufficiently ventila- 
ted in the cold season. Improvements have been making here in the gene- 
ral internal arrangements for several years. The various out-buildings are 
in repair, and the large new hospital for the sick and insane, chiefly for the 
latter, indicates that the citizens of Schuylkill county desire to do what can 
be effected in a county establishment, in procuring a degree of comfort and 
humane management for the insane. Of this class there are here about 
twenty-five, ten of w T hich were in the hospital ; these, both men and wo- 
men, were in charge of a person called the steward, who is, or was, one of 
the paupers. I had no reason to doubt his fidelity, so far as his knowledge 
and ability should conduct him ; he appeared attentive so far as I had an op- 
portunity of observing, but his qualifications could not be such by education, 
as to make him a competent and responsible " care-taker" of the insane, far- 
ther than the mechanical labour is concerned. I understood a woman 
was sent daily from the main-building to assist in the early arrangements 
connected with the female apartments. I should think a better plan would 
be to appoint a competent female superintendent to take care of the women 
and to lodge at the hospital ; she might also assist in watching the sick and 
attending to the invalids. The hospital apartments here, I think, are about 
seven by nine, and ten feet high, the windows were of good size, and the 
cells could be ventilated and warmed, perhaps sufficiently, with care. Seve- 
ral of the patients were exceedingly ungovernable, and most of them, I fear, 
not likely to recover the use of their faculties. 

The farm connected with this county-house is large and valuable ; it is 
said to be very well managed. Here is no school for children, and reli- 
gious services rarely ; but places of public worship in the neighbourhood, 
afford opportunity for those of the inmates to attend who are able and incli- 
ned to go. 

Northumberland County Jail, in Sunbury, was in decent order. I 
found no prisoners, but learned that this prison was subject to all the objec- 
tions which apply to the majority of county prisons. The prisoners were 
well supplied at their meals from the keeper's table, as I was told. 

This county has no poor-house ; the poor are distributed in the several 
townships as convenience and economy determine. I learned from a medical 
practitioner, and others, that there were in the county many cases of in- 
sanity, urgently claiming appropriate care ; but the entire number of idiots, 
epileptics, and insane, I could not learn. Many suffer from absolute neg- 
lect, and some become, it is feared, incurable through want of remedial 
treatment. 

I cannot conclude this very brief notice of Northumberland county, with- 
out referring to a " son of the soil," whose best energies are now success- 
fully devoted in a sister state to conducting an institution for the insane : I 
refer to Dr. Awl, of Ohio, a name known there and repeated with affectionate 
gratitude by many, whom, in the providence of God, he has been instru- 
mental in restoring to health, and to the blessings of family and social life. 
His annual reports urge constantly a timely care for insane patients, and 
humane provisions for all, whether recoverable, or beyond the reach of hu- 
man skill to cure. 



31 

Perry County Jail, at Bloomjield, was in order and clean. There was 
but one prisoner, a young man charged with murder. His habits and char- 
acter have earned for him no right to look for lively sympathy in his pre- 
sent jeopardy ; but his case was judged of very leniently by some of the 
citizens—" He had only killed a poor old man who was half intoxicated, and 
who did nothing when he was alive." • 

Perry County Poor-house, near Landisburg, is a respectable estab- 
lishment, having some good buildings, and a productive farm. The inmates, 
who in October numbered about forty, and were chiefly aged and infirm per- 
sons, appeared tolerably comfortable, and the rooms were arranged with re- 
ference to convenience and general order. A somewhat more immediate 
supervision might be better. The family who have the direction of the 
establishment reside in an adjacent dwelling, Here is no school ; religious 
meetings, I understood, occasionally. 

The rooms or cells for the insane, were in a small wooden building ; these 
were above ground — very small — lighted somewhat, but very defectively 
ventilated, and badly constructed, the barred petitions exposing the patients 
to observation. There were three of the insane altogether incapable of be- 
ing at large, or associated with the other inmates of the place. The day I 
was there though fires were necessary throughout the establishment, the 
clearness of the weather permitted them to be taken into the small enclo- 
sures, near the cells. I found them sitting upon the damp ground, in slight 
apparel, and exposed of course to colds and rheumatic attacks. I think in 
the winter some difficulties, if not danger, would be encountered in supply- 
ing the cells with sufficient warmth. The charge of keeping these poor 
creatures in any degree decent or comfortable, could not be easy, and would 
require a high sense of duty for its faithful performance. I have reason to 
apprehend they experience much suffering. 

The number of insane and idiots in this county, I should judge was small, 
but I could not rely on certain information. 

Cumberland County Jail, at Carlisle, was pretty clean, and for a prison 
so ill-built and ill-planned, pretty well arranged. The supply of food for 
the prisoners appeared to me not sufficient. The allowance is one pound 
of bread per day, and three pounds of meat per week, with nothing in ad- 
dition, water as much as desired — they cook for themselves in one of the 
apartments of the jail. There is a large enclosed yard common to the fam- 
ily and the prisoners. There were seven in confinement in October, on va- 
rious charges — no means of improvement from abroad or within — no in- 
struction and no employment — and no impediment to evil communications. 
The jailer, on his part, did all the county required. 

Cumberland County Poor-House is remarkably well situated, and has 
a well-managed, productive farm. The establishment is expensive to the 
county. In October there were one hundred paupers, seven of which were 
insane, not including some who were idiotic, and of feeble minds. At that 
time none were constantly in close confinement. An idiot girl has been 
the mother of four children ; two of these were born and died before she 
was placed in the poor-house. Alms-houses, unless there is a well-arranged 
classification of the inmates, are surely not fit places for the insane and idi- 
ots. The " crazy cells" in the basement, I consider unfit for use in all res- 
pects. The insane and idiots in the county is said to exceed one hundred. 
Chains and hobbles are in use. 

Dauphin County Jail, at Harrisburg, is undoubtedly one of the best 
conducted county-prisons in the United States. Like the jail in Chester 
county, it adopts the separate system with employment, and such instruc- 
tion and advantages, as prisons constructed on this plan, secure to morals 
and habits. The provisions are excellent, and the food well prepared, and 
supplied in sufficient quantities. As a system, it is subject, in common with 
the Philadelphia County Prison, and that of Chester, to an objection in re- 
taining criminals, whose offences render them subject to the State Peniten- 



32 



tiaries, and to terms of imprisonment exceeding a year in duration. This 
mistake will, it is believed, be remedied both by justice, and a necessity 
which a little longer experience will make plain. The discipline and mo- 
ral training of the Eastern and Western Penitentiaries, adapt them to effect 
the objects of prison detention for extended sentences more surely than it is 
possible to secure in county prisons, where there are no teachers qualified 
and expressly appointed, to give appropriate instruction. 

Religious service is held in the Dauphin County Jail on every Sabbath af- 
ternoon, by the clergy of Harrisburg, who have volunteered their services, 
and so fulfil the law of Christ, preaching repentance and the forgiveness of 
sins " unto the poor and prison-bound." This instruction needs to be fol- 
lowed up by additional lessons. Many cannot read — they should be taught. 
Many are profoundly ignorant upon the plainest principles of morals, so far 
as teaching and example have reached them. They need help in these 
things — more aid than the inspectors or warden can have leisure to give ; 
and these official persons are both vigilant and interested to benefit and re- 
claim the prisoner. 

A well chosen library for the prison is much needed — and it is hoped that 
the benevolent citizens of Harrisburg will make it their work and duty to 
supply such books as are suited to the moral and mental wants of the con- 
victs. 

Repeated visits to the Dauphin County Jail have satisfied me of the kind 
and just discipline which prevails. Punishment is infrequent, and when 
imposed, is of no greater severity or duration than is absolutely necessary 
for securing compliance with the mild and necessary regulations of the in- 
stitution. 

The dimensions of the cells are eight feet by fifteen, and ten high; light- 
ed at one end near the ceiling. Pure water is introduced through iron 
pipes, and the cells are maintained warm and dry by means of hot water 
thrown through small iron pipes in each cell. The bunks are furnished with 
a straw bed, replaced as often as necessary ; and a sufficient quantity of 
clean bed-clothing. The apparel of the prisoners is comfortable and adapted 
to the season. I have found the prisoners in health and as good condition, 
physically, as the same number of persons following like employments and 
of steady habits abroad. There is no hospital room. 

On the 1st of January, 1844, say the inspectors, in their report of the 
prison, there were twenty-three prisoners — fourteen of which were senten- 
ced to labour; four to imprisonment, ("who might have employment if 
they wished,") and five, also conditionally employed, were waiting trial. 
During the year 1844, there were received one hundred and sixty-five pri- 
soners, and during the same period, one hundred and sixty-nine have been 
discharged; leaving in prison, January 1st, 1845, fourteen. Died, none. 
The health of this prison is indeed remarkable. 

The inspectors also remark, " As to the efficacy of the system of separate 
confinement, combined with labour, being the most perfect yet devised for 
the punishment and reformation of offenders, our experience during the past 
year, fully confirms all that our remarks expressed in the last annual report 
— giving precedence to the ' Pennsylvania, or separate system.' " The re- 
port concludes with a merited commendation of the warden, and other offi- 
cers, for fidelity in the discharge of their duties. The fidelity extends to 
the inspectors, and is as commendable as it is rare in county jails. 

The Dauphin County Poor-House, near Harrisburg, is a substantial 
brick building, of three stories with the basement, and one hundred and 
fifteen feet by forty. It is generally clean, comfortable and well furnished. 
I have visited it twice, and the whole condition of the establishment shows 
creditably for those who superintend it, and gives evidence of the benevo- 
lence, and just spirit of the citizens who established and support it. The 
number of inmates, the third of February, was one hundred and sixteen, of 
which, twenty-nine were children, thirteen imbecile and slightly deranged, 



33 

three epileptics, and four very crazy. One insane woman has, for several 
years, occupied a cell in the basement, which measures fifteen feet by six- 
it is lighted, and warmed by a stove set in the partition. She has long- re- 
fused to go abroad. For those of the insane, who are quiet enough to be 
enlargedj chains are employed to restrain them from rambling to a distance. 
These are as light as is consistent with strength, but yet are a source of 
great discomfort and evident mortification to the wearers. This class here 
fall a good deal under the personal direction of the superintendents. Th& 
farm consists of two hundred acres, one hundred and forty of which are 
cultivated ; a grist mill is on the premises, and is considered a valuable part 
of the property. The food is ample and of good quality. The bread, which 
is of fine wheat flour and mixed with milk, is excellent. The bed-clothing 
and wearing apparel is comfortable. The children, who are of suitable age 
are sent to the district school. Religious services are frequent. Medical 
attendance as often as is required. 

Lebanon County Jail, at Lebanon, is built of stone, and is much on the 
same plan as other jails constructed thirty or more years since. It was tol- 
erably clean. The only prisoner was a half-crazy imbecile man, who was 
committed for mischievously "burning the woods." He appeared to me in- 
capable of any responsible act. His room was comfortable, and he was well 
cared for. 

Lebanon County Poor-House, near the town, is a finely situated and 
liberally established institution. All the buildings are in repair, and the 
whole place respectably arranged, combining much comfort and conveni- 
ence. This populous house had many infirm and invalid inmates. Several 
aged females, almost or quite imbecile, were not in so neat a condition as 
one would wish, but I learned that it was nearly impossible to render them 
more so. The house is very well furnished — the provision, as usual in the. 
poor-houses, of excellent quality, and amply supplied. Wearing apparel 
also, as usual, good and sufficient. Beds and bed-clothing of excellent quali- 
ty. This is an excellence which quite distinguishes Pennsylvania alms-houses, 
especially those of the Germans. There were no cases of violent insanity 
here in November, but several idiotic and imbecile men and women. 

Berks County Jail, at Reading, is an old building, constructed with 
stone, upon an inconvenient plan, and subject to the objections of the com- 
mon system of indiscriminate association of prisoners. I understand the 
plan of a new county prison is under consideration. Several prisoners oc- 
cupied two of the four jail apartments. Here are no moral or religious in- 
fluences, and no means for general or special improvement. Idle habits are 
confirmed, and good habits, if any, weakened or destroyed. 

Berks County Poor-House, near Reading, is an extensive establish- 
ment, providing amply for the necessities and comforts of its numerous in- 
mates. The buildings are large and commodious, constructed of brick, and 
well finished and furnished. There were, in the autumn, two hundred pau- 
pers ; eighty of which were sick, infirm and insane, belonging to the hos- 
pital department. Of the insane, there were twenty-two. The salary of 
the matron of the hospital is insufficient. She is a person of uncommon 
energy and ability for that place. But while every care is taken that a 
poor-house can give, the insane cannot, for the want of the medical and 
moral treatment which their cases peculiarly require, be often restored. I 
am satisfied there can be few recoveries here, though the apartments appro- 
priated for this class, are constructed and furnished on the plans most ap- 
proved in modern hospitals for the insane. I can imagine nothing better. 1 
have seen nothing elsewhere that will compare with the excellence of these 
arrangements altogether. No costs appear to have been spared to make the 
inmates comfortable, so far as the building and furnishing are concerned. 
The deficiencies are want of suitable exercise-grounds, for those who were 
too much excited to have the range of the premises, and who were incapa- 
ble of employment; and the want of competent nurses to aid the matron. 



34 



The whole place was thoroughly neat. It may be offered as a model to all 
the counties in the State, for poor-house hospitals for the sick, and incura- 
ble insane, epileptics and idiots. Here they are safe and comfortable, as far 
as their condition permits. The insane and idiots in the county at large, I 
heard variously computed at from eighty to one hundred. • 

In the main building is a school for the children. The supply of well 
chosen books is altogether deficient. For a time there was very little mo- 
ral or religious teaching. I understood this was to be resumed at no dis- 
tant season.. In nearly all the poor-houses in Pennsylvania, is found an 
apartment or chapel, exclusively appropriated to religious services. A 
knowledge of the language of the people is of course indispensable to use- 
ful influence. Few of the inmates understand English, except the^most 
common colloquial phrases, and many of them not even these. 

Montgomery County Jail, at Norristown, is a large stone building, ca- 
pable of receiving many prisoners. I saw but one in November. The pri- 
soner was not very clean, but neither was there much neglect. The venti- 
lation was imperfect, and usually the rooms overheated — a very common 
fault in prisons and poor-houses. I understood the food was sufficient and 
suitable in quality. 

Montgomery County Poor-House is several miles north-west from Nor- 
ristown, and is a liberally managed establishment, so far as the furnishing 
of the various buildings and supply of provisions is regarded. There are 
three large dwelling-houses, besides numerous out-buildings. Two of the 
former have been long built — but one is new, and was designed to increase 
the accommodations for the sick and the insane. Attached to the poor-house 
is a large and productive farm, under good management. 

The new hospital, erected at considerable cost, and I doubt not, in the 
idea of procuring much good for those who should occupy it, is unfortu- 
nately not well planned. The principal defects are in the basement, where 
the insane are placed. The cells for this class in the old building, were 
condemned by all who saw them, both in their construction, and the wretch- 
ed condition to which the inmates were abandoned. To remedy some of 
these acknowledged evils the new cells were made. I confess, except that 
change of place may have been a benefit, I see nothing gained ; noth- 
ing can be more defective than the ventilations and mode of warming 
the whole range of cells. They are offensive, dreary, and comfortless in 
the extreme. These miseries are augmented by the entire incapacity of 
those who have the immediate care of this department — the woman I saw 
employed there, had neither tact nor skill for that most responsible and dif- 
ficult charge. An assistant, a blind man, could not be supposed to render 
assistance that would avail much. I do not know that there was a disposi- 
tion to neglect duty, but ignorance of how to manage, and to meet the pe- 
culiar wants of these maniacs, was obvious at every step. I have found 
nowhere in Pennsylvania, so bad and hopeless a condition of things for the 
insane, especially for the excited and troublesome patients. I am sorry to 
say this, and especially, because I must believe that the overseers of the 
poor in the county, had meant to reach some better results. There is a 
very small confined yard, enclosed by a lofty wall, in which the insane men 
and women, for they are brought pretty promiscuously together, when out 
of the cells, may walk. This place is but a few yards square, and so shut 
in, as to have little the benefit of pure air — it also prevents a free circula- 
tion of air from reaching the cells. This admits remedy by knocking down 
the wall and extending it, so as to enclose at least half an acre, but better 
one or two. The patients were very indecently exposed, and I left this de- 
partment of the establishment grieved and astonished. The upper stories 
of the building were well directed, and comfortable altogether, unless the 
needed repose of the sick and aged was disturbed by the shrieks and vocif- 
erations issuing ( from the insane cells, below the infirmary. This could 
hardly fail to be the case. At the Berks County poor-house hospital, one 



35 

felt that the miseries of the insane were mitigated — at the Montgomery 
County-house Hospital, they seemed perpetuated and aggravated. In the 
one was decency, cleanness and measured comfort — in the other nakedness, 
exposure and filth. 

Bucks County Jail, at Doylestown, is a well built prison, in good order 
and repair. The apartments being comfortable and decent. I found here 
four prisoners, two men and two women, committed for immoralities, all 
occupying one room by day. It would appear that if evil communications 
are corrupting, they were not likely to leave the prison with amended 
purposes or repentant minds. 

The County Poor-house is in Warwick township, three miles from Doyles- 
town. The situation is elevated, pleasant and healthful. The farm is large, 
productive, and well cultivated. All things pertaining to it, are creditable 
to the management of the superintendent. 

The main dwelling was generally neat and comfortable. There were in 
November one hundred and fifty paupers, twelve of whom were confined 
in apartments removed from the main building, and in and adjacent to the 
hospital. The whole condition of, and arrangement for, the insane, especi- 
ally for the men, was very bad ; very bad, indeed. Eight or nine were 
crowded into one small over-heated, unventilated room ; the discomforts of 
which, were intolerable. The attendant, a pauper, appeared to do all in 
his power to maintain some little cleanness, but want of space, and many 
other wants, rendered these efforts nearly useless. A small lodging room 
over the apartment, in which I found most of the men, contains their beds, 
and miserable enough they were ; yet here eight or nine are crowded each 
night, and in one bed two are required to lodge. The rattling of the chains 
and hobbles was the accompanying music to cries and other most dis- 
cordant sounds. The history of some of these cases, as related at the poor- 
house, and as I learned them elsewhere, are very sad. An epileptic, par- 
ticularly, moved my sympathies. He was, at the time I saw him, tolerably 
rational, and quite conscious of where he was, and how situated ; but being 
liable to fits, at almost any hour, he was shut in with the other patients, 
who embraced the worst cases on the premises. He had a book, and looking 
up, as I paused beside him, said : " It's a" hard place to be in, but I must 
bear it." It was hard, indeed ; nay, it was more — it was horrible. What 
an experience of life; what a living death! The breaking down of the 
mind, under that terrible disease, was almost too much to be borne ; yet 
how was all this aggravated by such companionship ! Such loathsome 
revolting scenes ! What contrasts does life not afford ! 

Delaware County Jail, at Chester, is a stone building, old, inconveni- 
ent, and very badly planned, but cleanly kept. On my first visit in July, I 
found three prisoners, two males and a female ; two had severally been 
committed for vicious .conduct. I found all of them together. And to my 
remark on the impropriety of such mis-arrangements, was answered, that it 
had " always been the custom to keep the prisoners together, and they had 
not thought much about it !" 

I re-visited this prison in October, and found ten prisoners ; nine men, and 
one woman; the latter at that time employed in the kitchen. The rooms 
were not very clean ; they were over-heated, the beds as usual on the floor, 
and the prisoners of all ages and colours, congregated to amuse each other 
according to their fancy. The allowance of food is one pound of ship-bread 
to each prisoner, and as much water as they wish. The county, not the 
sheriff, is responsible for all defects here. 

Delaware County Poor-house, several miles from Chester, is a large 
stone building, clean, well furnished, and well directed. The provisions are 
good and sufficient, and the food well prepared. Here were eighty-five 
inmates the third week in October ; of these but few are children. From 
twelve to fifteen are insane and idiotic ; were clean, and comfortable, with 
the exception perhaps of wearing chains and hobbles. None were in close 



36 



confinement; though such cases often occur. A small wooden building, 
constructed near the main dwelling, contains six cells, cleanly white-washed 
and scrubbed, furnished with a small but comfortable bed, but not capable of 
being warmed at all ; accordingly they are disused during the cold season. 
Each is lighted by a grated window. There are in the basement of the 
main building four cells, lined with sheet iron, which are used for the vio- 
lent patients when necessary. There are no recoveries reported in the poor- 
house through remedial treatment. " The most we expect," said one of the 
family, "is to do what we can for their comfort; we have no means for 
curing them." The entire establishment seemed excellently conducted, and 
but for the difficulty of managing the insane and idiotic, would afford a 
quiet home for the aged and infirm. 

It is estimated -that there are in Delaware county about seventy cases 
of insane and idiotic persons. The poor-house farm is large and productive. 

Chester County Jail, at West Chester, is built of stone, upon the plan 
of separate imprisonment. The cells are of good size, perfectly clean, and 
well aired. The provisions supplied, are of excellent quality. The allow- 
ance is three meals daily, and as much as satisfies the appetite. There has 
been but one death, by disease, in four years, and this was by consumption, 
developed before admission; and one prisoner was pardoned in consumption, 
who was also sick when received. I think one man, who was received in 
a state of intoxication, committed suicide. An accident which has hap- 
pened to a few lines upon my note-book prevents my stating the whole case. 
I copy from the warden's report to the board of inspectors, the following facts : 
" We had in prison on the 1st of May, 1843, 32 

We received, during the year, white males, - 41 

" " " " females, - - - - . 3 

Coloured males, -- - - 25 

" females, - , - • - ' - • - ' ' 4 

Making in all, ---.-.-.-. 105 

In prison on the first of May, 1844, 28 

" The total number sentenced to labour, during four years, since removed 
from the old prison, is seventy-nine. Of these forty-seven could read and 
write ; twenty-four could not read nor write ; and eight could read only. 
Thirty-three of these prisoners were intemperate ; twenty-eight of them 
temperate, and eighteen were moderate drinkers. 

" We have manufactured, during the year 1843-44, fourteen thousand 
three hundred and ninety-four yards of cotton cloth, four thousand three 
hundred and fifty-seven yards of carpet, and made bags, four hundred and 
ninety-four. These have met a ready market, and afford a fair profit. 

I visited this prison in July, and saw all the prisoners, of which there 
were twenty-nine. Twenty of these were convicts, and nine were waiting 
trial. They were in excellent health, often replying to my inquiry in the 
words, " I am right hearty." They conversed cheerfully, were clean in 
their persons and apparel, and presented a remarkable contrast to the sixty- 
eight prisons I have since visited, always ecxcepting the Moyamensing 
Prison, and that of Dauphin County. Some of the jails referred to were in 
Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio. 

There were two of the prisoners above named, who, though in apparent 
health, were insane, a German and a Pole ; the insanity of the former was 
produced by irregular life and intemperance. The case of the latter I did 
not learn. They both were in comfortable rooms, and were carefully 
attended. The defects at present in this prison are deficient moral instruc- 
tion, and the want of a sufficient supply of well-chosen books ; these should 
be furnished without delay. Those who cannot read should be taught, and 
to this writing and arithmetic might without disadvantage be added. I saw 



37 

a letter written by a prisoner, who had served out his time, and settled 
himself to an honest life. It was addressed to the warden, and shows that he 
was sensible of the kind influences which had been extended to him in prison. 
" Mr. Robert Irwin : 

" Sir : — I cannot but think from the gentlemanly mannner you treated 
me while I was with you, you will be glad to hear from me ; and I do as- 
sure you, I shall always feel the most sincere gratitude and affection for 
you, and the other officers connected with the hall. The kind and manly 
eourse pursued by you and all in authority, is calculated to reform any one 
that has the least spark of honesty left in his heart. I have, by sad experi- 
ence, found that any but an honest and upright course, will lead to wretched- 
ness and misery." 

Perhaps the writer might have arrived at this conclusion if he had spent 
his two years in idleness, associated with all the corrupt offenders received 
during that period, but I hold the faith that he was saved by being with- 
drawn from evil associates, and evil habits, and subject to discipline through 
kindness, employment, and the use of books. 

Chester County Poor-house, near Marshalton, has been undergoing a 
steady improvement for some years, in its discipline and domestic arrange- 
ments. It is a large, old building, almost surrounded by smaller buildings 
and out-houses. There is a valuable farm under good cultivation. Early in 
July, there were one hundred and fifty paupers, from twenty to thirty of 
which were idiots and insane persons. Forty of the entire number were 
coloured, (these occupied part of two comfortable houses,) fifty were Irish, 
and sixty were Americans. About forty-five of the whole number are 
children. Five of the insane were in close confinement ; ten were often 
added to this number, but at times were so well as to be allowed at large 
upon the premises, sometimes restrained by irons ; the residue were always 
at liberty to go about the houses and yards. The health of the place was 
generally good ; very few were seriously ill, but there were a few chronic 
cases. "About the hardest trial we have here," said the kind-hearted 
superintendent, "is parting with the children." The little creatures clus- 
tered around him like a swarm of bees ; it was no " make believe love,' 
between them : the very babies stretched out the little arms to go with him. 

I spent a long time about the buildings ; and from cellar to attic, and attic 
to cellar, through the whole, all things were clean and in order. The 
mistress had inspired the people with an ambition rarely found amongst the 
inmates of a poor-house : an emulation each of the other, in maintaining well- 
ordered apartments. Not a speck of dirt was to be seen about the wash- 
boards, the window-sills, or any where ; even the rooms for the craziest men 
and women, partook the general care. Here one saw that the oldest and 
least convenient buildings, might be made respectable and healthful, by 
proper attention to cleanliness and ventilation. All the insane were made 
as comfortable as their condition in a poor-house permitted. But here are 
no recoveries — here are no means for procuring essential benefits — what can 
be done is done, and it is a consolation amidst such inevitable miseries, to 
witness efforts for alleviating sufferings and evils which do not admit entire 
remedy. Curable cases should never be received here. 

The Philadelphia County Jail, at Philadelphia, situated in the district 
of Moyamensing, is a massive stone building, in the Gothic style of archi- 
tecture. From the rear of the front edifice, the extensive halls run back at 
right angles ; these contain three tiers of cells on either side. The two 
upper tiers being reached by means of railed corridors and galleries, extend- 
ing the entire length of the blocks, which are ventilated and lighted from 
the roof. One block is appropriated to prisoners before trial. The other 
receives convicts who are sentenced, and who are here furnished with em- 
ployment, and subject to a wholesome, but not rigid discipline. These 
blocks are exclusively for the male prisoners. The women's prison, divided 
by a high wall and intervening garden, is a separate building and establish- 

4 



38 

merit, disconnected in all domestic arrangements, from the men's prison. 
This department is especially well ordered, clean, comfortable, and well 
managed. The prisoners are supplied with suitable work — with books, and 
have the benefit of moral and religious teaching, (not at the expense of the 
city or county,) from the moral instructor, who visits the prison at large, and 
from an association of pious and devoted women, who spare no pains to 
reclaim the offenders, and restore the outcast. Their benevolent efforts are 
not confined to the prisoners during their terms of detention, but they endeavour 
to extend care and influence beyond the walls of the prison. Their disinter- 
ested and faithful exertions, sometimes meet with their highest reward, in the 
good results which attend upon, and follow these labours. There are many 
in all prisons, who set at nought counsel, and scorn reproof, but this is no 
argument whereby a Christian community would find justification in refrain- 
ing from employing every consistent and reasonable exertion to recover the 
sin-sick soul — to inspire virtuous sentiments, to raise the fallen, and to 
strengthen the weak. The moral teacher in this prison, is a missionary 
employed by a benevolent society. Would it be more than justice demands, 
since the courts sentence so many convicts to these prisons, for long terms, 
for the city to appoint and support a chaplain, at its own cost 1 The many 
hundred prisoners in the county jail, though a very unpromising class of pu- 
pils, certainly not the less on that account, should be faithfully visited and 
instructed. Is it not a mistake, however, to sentence to the county prison, 
offenders, whose crimes make them legitimate subjects for the Eastern Peni- 
tentiary 1 Sent there, where sufficient and effective arrangements are made 
for teaching the ignorant, and nourishing the moral nature, where the regu- 
lations are all in all, better adapted for their benefit, than can be those of 
the county prison; they would be subject, not to a severer discipline, but 
would receive a stricter justice, whether we consider their rights as men, or 
their condemnation as criminals. 

The cells of Moyamensing prison, are of good and convenient size, well 
lighted, and ventilated, and in winter, well warmed. They are maintained 
clean, and well furnished, and are supplied with pure water by pipes. The 
food is of good quality, and of sufficient quantity. It is well prepared, and 
usually distributed with care. I have visited all the cells in this extensive 
prison, and conversed with the prisoners, and having spent the largest part 
of nine days in a diligent examination of their condition, and of the general 
arrangements and the discipline, I do not hesitate to say, it is conducted in 
a manner highly creditable to the officers, whose duty it is to govern and 
direct its affairs. There are some defects, but they may be chiefly remedied 
with due attention. Well chosen additions to the library are much needed, 
as also care in the distribution of the books. The prisoners were at liberty to 
communicate to me their grievances, if they had any, and to represent their 
condition without restraint. The only grave complaint, and it was twice 
repeated, was from a prisoner who desired a greater variety of food. Mut- 
ton and veal to vary his meals diet, and a larger variety of vegetables ! 
There were three or four insane men, who had been committed on petty 
charges, and were not subjects for this prison, or any other. 

The Eastern Penitentiary contained in January about three hundred 
and sixty-two prisoners. Within two years, twenty-seven well-attested 
cases of insanity, have been brought to this penitentiary. I do not wish to 
enter now upon an elaborate discussion of this subject. The gross injustice 
of sentencing and committing men to prison for crimes committed while 
governed by the delusions of insanity, appears so obvious, that no person of 
the least humanity or intelligence will deny the position. Is it not time 
that the penal code of Pennsylvania should be revised 1 In this respect 
especially it demands consideration. The criminal jurisprudence of insanity 
has engaged much attention during the last thirty or forty years. France 
has led the way to this just reform, declaring with precision and perspicuity, 
" that there is no crime nor fault when the party accused was in a state of 
insanity at the period of the act." The penal code of Louisiana contains an 






39 

act to the same effect, though less concisely expressed. That of New York 
lays down the same principle, with distinctness and precision: "No act 
done by a person in a state of insanity, can be punished as an offence, and 
no insane person can be tried and sentenced to any punishment, or be pun- 
ished for any crime or offence committed in the state." These decrees, so 
philosophically just and humane, are worthy of being copied into every 
statute book of every nation. Several of the German principalities have 
long- since adopted them. We have been slow in the United States to 
recognize this duty to a class of sufferers having peculiar and undeniable 
claims on the considerate and merciful care of every people. The English 
law on this subject is obscure ; and successive acts of Parliament are both 
perplexing and contradictory. The high judicial authorities have from time 
to time declared opinions on these points, which, considering the times in 
which they were expressed, are distinguished only by their errors: and 
these inexcusable, because information of undoubted authority was within 
reach. The able medical governors of the hospitals and asylums, were 
both willing and competent to define insanity. 

A vast many persons honestly believe, that most offenders for whose de- 
fence the plea of insanity is urged in courts of justice, are merely feigning 
a malady in order to escape the punishment consequent on crime. False 
pretences may be set up, and such have been, but to sustain these with the 
means of knowledge society now possesses in the experience of intelligent 
medical men, who have made this branch of their science a study, is not 
easy. The truth is, insanity is not a malady to be easily counterfeited, and 
those who undertake to simulate this disease, must have a very thorough 
acquaintance with its manifestations. There is no need to apprehend that 
in these cases either judge or jury may be imposed upon, if information is 
sought from those competent to determine this very grave and important 
question. 

The insane who have been committed to the Eastern and Western State 
Penitentiaries, receive in those prisons such care and humane consideration, 
as the discipline, and general organization of these places permit. But 
granting for a moment that the insane do not suffer a great injustice in 
being committed to the state prisons, they inevitably, from the plan and 
arrangement of these institutions, are severe sufferers by such imprisonment ; 
and one finds a sufficient argument for a State Hospital in the unhappy 
circumstances of the insane patients in the prisons, and jails, and alms-houses 
of Pennsylvania; without referring even, to another class, numerous and 
claiming benevolent consideration : I mean those who are not in affluent 
circumstances, and who borne down by this domestic calamity, are not able 
to meet the expenses of removal to, and cost of support in those institutions 
which are already established, and which have proved so great a blessing to 
large numbers of your citizens. 

Pennsylvania has the high praise of having established a model prison on 
the separate system, which in its whole plan and government is worthy of 
being copied, wherever civilized life makes the establishment of prisons 
necessary for the security of society. I express this opinion in a full confi- 
dence, based on extensive knowledge of prisons and prison systems of dis- 
cipline ; and I am satisfied that no unprejudiced, intelligent mind, can ex- 
amine deliberately and faithfully, the wards of the Eastern Penitentiary, and 
not arrive at the same conclusion. The best systems, it is acknowledged, 
exhibit defects ; and the best systems badly administered may produce the 
worst consequences; but in the prison at Cherry Hill, one witnesses both 
the good system and the good administration united ; and we wish not to 
see its harmonious order and just, but mild discipline, disturbed by the 
strange anomaly of uniting a State Prison and a State Hospital, criminal 
wards and lunatic wards. We wish not to see misfortune punished as 
crime, and crime raised to a level with misfortune. 

I have said that within two years, twenty-seven insane persons have been 
committed to the Eastern Penitentiary, charged with various crimes. The 



40 



history of many of these, I have traced. I have resolved that no labour shall 
be spared on my part, in bringing facts to light. The testimony of intelli- 
gent citizens throughout the state, and the opinion of medical men acquainted 
with these cases, having had them under their care as patients, settles these 
points definitely. Men having been known as insane for years, committing 
recent crimes, still under the influence of insane delusions, are every month 
tried, and condemned, and sentenced, precisely as if they were in possession 
of a sound mind, and were responsible for their speech and deeds. The fact 
of their known insanity, is often recorded on the books of the prison, by the 
officers who convey them there?. One often hears the now somewhat trite 
assertion, " Since we have no State Hospital, they must go to prison, that 
the lives and property of the public may not be destroyed !" 

To this custom of sending so large numbers of insane men to the peni- 
tentiaries may be referred many of the aspersions and objections which 
have been adduced against the " Separate System." 

All the Poor-Houses in the city and county of Philadelphia, reveal 
scenes of suffering through defective provision for the insane, and great 
mistakes in the care and management of them. 

A majority of the paupers in this county are gathered into the poor-houses 
— that is, if the city and its districts, the Northern Liberties, Southwark, 
Kensington, Spring Garden, and Penn township, are included. Most of the 
other townships and villages in the county, I am informed, follow the old 
custom of " letting out the poor," or annually placing them in families, who 
agree to take them at the lowest rate, as in West Philadelphia, a part of 
Blockley township, &c, &c. 

At Germantown is a Poor-House, which I have not visited since June ; but 
I found it at that season very clean and comfortable. The pleasant weather 
permitted most of the people to be abroad, including some insane men, who 
under a degree of restraint, still found pleasure in the air and in exercise. 
One insane woman remained chiefly in her apartment, which was very 
comfortable, well situated and neatly arranged. This room she had deco- 
rated in a most fantastic manner with flowers, and leaves, and fragments of 
coloured cloth ; she was tranquil and silent. There are many indigent per- 
sons in this township who find aid from the more direct charities of the be- 
nevolent citizens, and are with that assistance saved from the entire depen- 
dence consequent upon resorting to the poor-house. 

I think it probable that in winter, this establishment must be quite too 
much crowded for health, or for that degree of comfort and accommoda- 
tion which should be secured to the aged and infirm inmates. 

Roxborough Poor-House, which also receives some of the poor from 
Manayunk, I visited three times early in the summer of 1844. I found a 
remarkably neat, well-regulated establishment — too much crowded indeed, 
even at that season, and affording no suitable provision for the insane, of 
which there were five, and one idiot ; beside these there were seventeen 
paupers. One, a young girl, in a state of dementia, was at times subject to 
violent paroxysms, and was exceedingly difficult of control. Another, a 
German woman, of middle age, from Manayunk, was highly excited, and, 
for the safety of others, as also for her own security, was closely confined 
in the cells in the cellar. Her strength and violence made it necessary for 
a man to take charge of her, the women of the house fearing and dreading 
her attacks. The superintendents of this house expressed much dissatis- 
faction and uneasiness at being obliged to use these underground apart- 
ments for this purpose. They were damp and in some respects unsafe. So 
far as the habits of the occupants and the situation of the cells would allow, 
they were made comfortable ; and I think uniformly as the paroxysms sub- 
sided the insane were removed for a few hours to the upper part of the 
dwelling, and in suitable weather, taken into the enclosed yard at one end 
of the house. 

There were no means here for any care of the insane, that could conduct 
to recovery. The exposures of every sort to which they are subject in 



41 

alms-houses, should be recollected by those who have the responsibility and 
power of determining if these shall last, or if by speedy legislation a fit asy- 
lum be opened for those who, in ceasing to exercise the reasoning faculties, 
cease from self-care, and have no more the capacity for governing their 
actions. 

The Philadelphia Alms-House, west of the Schuylkill, is a vast struc- 
ture built of stone, and capable of receiving above two thousand paupers. 
The main buildings alone, arranged in a parallelogram, cover and enclose 
an area of nearly ten acres. The average number of paupers in 1842, was 
fifteen hundred and forty-six, the inmates dispersing somewhat in the sum- 
mer, but thronging again in winter. December 7th, 1844, the number was 
seventeen hundred, of which six hundred and ninety-nine only were natives 
of the United States. 

This vast establishment is suitably furnished, and kept in remarkably neat 
order. Ventilation is complete, and every hall and ward exhibited a uni- 
form attention to that promoter of health — thorough cleanliness. I remark- 
ed the want of regular employment for a vast number of the inmates, 
and learned, with no less surprise than regret, that the original judicious 
plan of providing work for the paupers, according to the measure of their 
strength and ability, had been superseded; and further, that the machinery, 
and other apparatus for carrying out a part of the original system, so neces- 
sary to preserve in any degree the morals of the place, was now on sale. I 
am not acquainted with the motives which have led to this determination on 
the part of the official governors of the alms-house ; but it seems, according to 
all experience in life and civil economy, a great error of judgment to ad- 
mit such numbers of able-bodied men and women to the benefits of the in- 
stitution, and to maintain them either in idleness, or with insufficient occu- 
pation. The school was not regularly organized when I was there, and I 
could not learn that the moral training was such as most persons would de- 
termine to be sufficient to form the character, to correct ill-habits, and early 
to deepen impressions of truth, integrity, and good sentiments. There 
seemed to me too little education of the conscience. I am sensible that 
many children brought to this house are already imbued with pernicious 
ideas; that their propensities are often vicious, and their habits corrupt and 
corrupting. All this but strengthens the argument for their more careful 
education, that so they may, if possible, be saved from successive grades of 
demoralization, and from the prisons of the land. I do not impute to those 
who direct these children, any intentional omissions of duty, believing they 
perform all the guardians require, but I suggest that perhaps the present 
system will admit of improvement and reform. 

The Blockley alms-hospital, is a very expensive institution, and those aids 
for sustaining it at less cost to the city, with equal comforts for the inmates, 
which are adopted in some large establishments of this sort in other States, 
are not here resorted to; for example, the large fruit, vegetable and flower 
gardens, sometimes cultivated, and affording an income of some thousand 
dollars to the poor-houses, are not here made available. 

Again, useful employment is afforded, as at the Rochester alms-house, in 
New York, during the season when labour is not practicable on the farm, 
by cracking stone, for M'Adamizing the streets and roads. 

Employment in these institutions, even if not made to yield a considera- 
ble income, seems of much importance. The virtuous poor are always wil- 
ling to work according to the measure of their strength ; while the idle va- 
grant, compelled to labour in the alms-house, will be more ready to seek 
work abroad, where he can be paid for it. 

Of that department of the alms-house hospital, which is occupied for the 
insane, I feel great unwillingness to speak ; but I believe I am not the first 
to suggest that it has great and fatal defects, Attention has been called to 
the subject, through the journals of the city, and I trust that there will be 
no long delay in changing the whole order of this department of the institu- 

4# 



42 



tion. In one respect, and it is no little praise to accord, it was unexcep- 
tionable — it was clean, thoroughly clean. 

The men's department alone, for the insane, received from January 1st, 
1843, to January 1st, 1844, three hundred and ninety-five patients ; of these 
it is painful to record, that two hundred and forty-eight cases were produ- 
ced by intemperance, and were not strictly hospital patients. The remaining 
one hundred and forty-seven are recorded under the general head of insanity. 
Dr. Jarvis, of Louisville, Ky., who visited this hospital in 1837, and has 
since written a treatise on Insanity and Insane Asylums, thus describes the 
mode of treating excited patients at the Blockley alms-house ; being a mode 
of restraint never at any period practised in our best asylums for the in- 
sane, and now, with one exception perhaps, disused altogether throughout 
the country. " A poor female was confined in a ' restraining chair,' made 
of plank ; one strap confined each arm, another the waist, and another pass- 
ed over the thighs, and held her down to her narrow prison. This girl was 
in a state of furious excitement; she was using the greatest struggles to 
extricate herself — she was kicking her feet, endeavouring to strike every one 
near her — she was boisterous and spat on every one within reach — she was 
the very image of a raging fury — and we were told that she had been in this 
excitement for three years, and the same means of straps and chairs had 
been as long used to calm her." 

My first visit to this alms-house was in June, 1844. There were many 
visiters at that time beside myself. I anticipated something like change — 
amendment, since 1837. . I supposed that in seven years the abominations 
of the present system, would so have disgusted, not only the official guar- 
dians of the house, but the whole public, that, with one indignant voice, 
they would have united to demand and enforce a more rational, not to say 
merciful, organization of the establishment. It was not so. 

Entering the men's wing, we found the hall and rooms vacant ; except 
three or four, in which were several excited patients who were necessarily 
shut up for a time — for how long a time one could not tell — nor who should 
determine these questions of restraint ; here is no one competent, govern- 
ing director ; " care-takers," are selected from the paupers, and of their 
qualifications in general for such delicate and very difficult duties, others 
can judge who know somewhat of the wants and the dependence of the in- 
sane. The patients' rooms were very clean, and sufficiently furnished. We 
descended to the exercise-yard, and directly the men were " driven forward 
by a keeper," into a small grassed area, where they might sit down, or lie 
down, or do what they listed. Some were chained, and others muffled, 
that they might not do mischief. As if their own collective vociferations 
were not productive of sufficient discord, a fiddler from the other depart- 
ment was brought to increase the confusion. The worst feature here to my 
thought, was the indiscriminate association of all these insane men, with- 
out the smallest regard to the degree of insanity, or to the different physi- 
cal and mental states they might exhibit ; those who were conscious of 
their own malady, who were conscious where they were, in the alms-house 
crazy- ward ; those who did not comprehend this, or comprehending, did not 
care ; the drooping melancholic, the noisy maniac, the drivelling idiot, and 
the spasm-shaken epileptic, all were here together. 

From this scene, revealing so little of appropriate and remedial care, we 
turned away, and followed our conductor to the women's department. Here, 
save a few who were in their rooms, in states of vehement excitement, we 
found the patients collected into one large room — the hideous tumult of 
which beggars description. The recent and the established cases; the 
tranquil and the excited ; - the conscious and the unconscious ; were here in 
one " great, monstrous, horrid company," to adopt the expressive descrip- 
tion of one of them — crying, shouting, laughing, screaming, moaning, com- 
plaining, rolling on the floor, moping in the corners, assuming all attitudes, 
and rousing each other to higher and higher exasperation ; here they were, 
and here too, was sent the pauper musician, with the sharp, shrill, dissonant 



43 

fiddle, adding discord to discord, and commingling the war of words with 
the war of sounds, in rivalry of Babel ! But this does not complete the pic- 
ture. In a remote part of this large room, in a " tranquilizing chair," that 
monstrous invention, which merits a place with the instruments of inquisi- 
torial torment, or the machines of rack and torture employed in the middle 
ages, by regal despotism, in a tranquilizing chair, was fastened a young 
and beautiful girl, in the highest state of frenzy, yet now and then becom- 
ing for a few moments tranquil. She smiled sweetly in her woe, and utter- 
ed half sentences, that moved many to tears. It was a sad and pitiable 
sight. Closely bound, hands, feet, and waist, she could only move the head 
and neck a little. Her beautiful hair fell in waves upon her neck, and 
there was a charm in her appearance, notwithstanding the wildness of the 
eye, that attracted all strangers. The " board of guardians," not less than 
the more infrequent visiters, drew towards her. I asked who she was, and 
whence she came. No one could tell. She had been found wandering in 
the outskirts of the city, and was brought there a few days before, raving 
mad. I saw her once again, some weeks later ; she was still highly exci- 
ted, and more unmanageable than before. I was consoled to learn, subse- 
quently, that her friends had traced her from the upper part of the county, 
above Frankford, and had removed her home. A merciful change, but how 
much more merciful, if she could have had the benefit of skilfully-directed 
hospital care. 

My second visit to the alms-house, produced new distrusts of the man- 
agement of the lunatic department, and confirmed first opinions. I found in 
the men's ward, a poor man in a " tranquilizing chair," whose countenance 
wore an expression of agonized suffering I can never forget. His limbs 
were tightly bound, his legs, body, arms, shoulders, all were closely confi- 
ned, and his head also. Feeble efforts to move were broken down by this 
inexorable machine. Upon the head, sustained by the apparatus which con- 
fined the movements of the neck, was a quantity of broken ice. This, as it 
gradually melted, flowed over his person, which, however, was in some de- 
gree protected from the wet by a stiff cape, either of canvass or leather. 
It was a very hot day, but he was deadly cold, and oh, how suffering ! To 
suffer would have been his lot, perhaps, under any circumstance ; but this 
treatment, " employed to keep him still" was a fearful aggravation of in- 
conceivable misery. I asked how long he had been under this restraint. 
" Four days I" " What, day and night V " No, at night we take him off, 
and strap him upon the bed." "How long will you keep him soT' " Till 
he is quiet." " How long have you ever kept the patients in this condi- 
tion 1" " Nine days, I believe, is the longest." It does not require much 
knowledge of the human frame, and of its capabilities to endure suffering, 
and resist destructive and injurious influences, to know whether such a 
mode of treating insane persons is remedial and restoring in its effects, or 
whether it does not seriously endanger life, and lay the foundation of vari- 
ous fatal ailments, in addition to the malady under which they are suffering. 
I am sure the intelligent and skilful medical men in Philadelphia, will con- 
cur in the opinion that this department of the alms-house calls for speedy 
and entire reconstruction. This can be accomplished with but little diffi- 
culty, and at a small additional expense. To doubt the willingness of the 
citizens of Philadelphia to promote this much needed change, would be to 
distrust that humanity and liberality which has never been found deficient, 
when benevolent objects have been presented for their consideration and 
support. Why the alms-house alone, of the numerous public charities of 
Philadelphia, should show a condition so adverse to the objects it proposes 
to accomplish, is a problem I cannot resolve. 

If idleness is the nurse of vice and crime, it would seem consistent with 
the purest political economy, to provide employment for all who are able to 
labour in the alms-house. If education is important to the youthful mind, 
especially moral culture, then a more careful attention to the school would 
be a public as well as individual good. If benevolent institutions for the 



44 



protection of the friendless, and the recovery of the sick and disabled, to 
health and usefulness, are recognized as important and necessary in crowd- 
ed cities and a densely inhabited country, then it is well that these should 
be so established as to procure for the recipients of charity, all the benefits 
which they can be made capable of securing-. 

The exciting causes of insanity in large cities are numerous. The poor 
and indigent are also numerous. If an extensive alms-house is necessary 
to receive the crowds, the thousands of sane paupers, surely a hospital on a 
curative foundation is also necessary, and to be preferred to a mere recep- 
tacle. In the one case, the maniac may be restored to reason and useful- 
ness ; in the other, there is a possibility, but it rests upon slight probability. 
It may be argued by some, that many who are sent to this hospital, are the 
victims of their own vices and indiscretions, and are undeserving the spe- 
cial care solicited. Many of them are unworthy : in all probability the 
majority may have abused their privileges, wasted property, and impaired 
their health by indulgences and excesses, which must be condemned. But 
shall not these find mercy, and pity, and succour 1 You do not abandon the 
criminal in the jail ; the juvenile offender finds a " Refuge ;" and the halls 
of your penitentiary echo to the voices of those who, by earnest counsels and 
instruction, strive to reclaim the convict from perverse and criminal habits, 
to rectitude and duty. Let not the erring, perhaps once vicious insane, 
alone be abandoned. 

One of your own citizens has not long since said publicly, what none have 
attempted to disprove : that unless means are taken to discover the real con- 
dition of the insane in the alms-house hospital, the people of this communi- 
ty will justly incur the infamy of sustaining a moral nuisance, an establish- 
ment disgraceful to humanity, and a libel upon the present state of our 
knowledge of the proper treatment of mental disease." 

The city and county of Philadelphia needs its own hospital and asylum 
for the treatment and protection of the insane ; as the cities of New York 
and Boston, sensible of the necessity of such provision for this class of their 
poor, have theirs. All large cities, as witness those just referred to, and 
not less Philadelphia and Baltimore, need for their own dependent citizens, 
a well-established hospital. 

It is but a few years since the alms-house of Suffolk County, Boston, re- 
vealed scenes of horror and abomination rarely exhibited, and such as we 
trust are now, in the mass at least, no where to be found in the United States. 
These mad -men and mad- women were the most hopeless cases, of long 
standing, and their malady was confirmed by the grossest mismanagement. 

The citizens at length were roused to the enormity of these abuses ; to 
the monstrous injustice of herding these maniacs in a building filled with 
cages, behind the bars of which, all loathsome and utterly offensive, they 
ho.wled, and gibbered, and shrieked day and night, like wild beasts raving 
in their dens. They knew neither decency nor quiet, nor uttered any thing 
but blasphemous imprecations, foul language, and heart-piercing groans. 
The most sanguine friends of the hospital plan hoped no more for these 
wretched beings than to procure for them greater decency and comfort ; re- 
covery of the mental faculties for these was not expected. The new esta- 
blishment was opened and organized as a curative hospital. The insane 
were gradually removed, disencumbered of their chains, and freed from the 
foul remnants of garments that failed to secure decent covering. They 
were bathed, clothed, and placed in comfortable apartments, under the man- 
agement of Dr. Butler,' now superintendent of the Retreat at Hartford. In 
a few months behold the result : recovering health, order, general quiet, and 
measured employment. Visit the hospital when you please, at " no set time 
or season," but at any hour of any day, you will find these patients decent- 
ly clothed, comfortably lodged, and carefully attended. They exercise in 
companies or singly, in the spacious halls ; they may be seen assembled 
reading the papers of the day : or books loaned from the library ; some la- 
bour in the yard and about the grounds ; some busy themselves in the vege- 



45 

table, and some in the flower garden ; some are employed within doors, in 
the laundry, in the kitchen, in the ironing-room, in the sewing-room. In 
every part of the house a portion of the patients find happiness and physical 
health, by well-chosen, well-directed employment. Care is had that this 
does not fatigue, that it is not mistimed ; and the visiter sees, amidst this 
company of busy ones, some of the incurables who so long inhabited the 
cages, and wore away life for years in anguish, encompassed by indescriba- 
ble horrors. And though, of this once most miserable company, less than 
one-sixth were restored to the right use of their reasoning faculties, with but 
few exceptions, they are capable of receiving pleasure, of engaging in some 
sort of employment, and of being taken to the chapel for religious services, 
where they are orderly and serious. Such, to the insane paupers, of Suf- 
folk county, Boston, have been, and continue to be, the benefits of the hos- 
pital treatment. Than theirs, no condition could be worse before removal 
from the old building ; now none can be better for creatures of broken 
health and impaired faculties, incompetent to guide and govern themselves, 
but yielding to gentle influences and watchful care. r- 

Gentlemen, I have endeavoured to show you in the preceding pages,-l=jpirsf, 
that the provision for the poor and indigent insane of your stateis inappropri- 
ate, insufficient, and unworthytaf a civilized and christian peopleUStecone?, that 
it is unjust and unjustifiabl(fto convict as criminals and incarcerate those 
in prison! who, bereft of reason, are incapable of that self-direction and ac- 
tion, by which a man is made responsible for the deeds he may commit : 
[ Third, I have, in the description of your alms-houses, adding the opinion of 
me most intelligent men of your-state, shown that these are, in all essen- 
tial respects, unfit for the insane^and that while they may, with uncommon 
care and devotedness on the part of the superintendents and other official 
persons, be made, decent receptacles, they cannot be made curative hospitals! 
nor asylums for affording adequate protection for the insane { Fourth, still 
less can these ends be accomplished in private families, even where pecu- 
niary prosperity affords the means of supplying many wants. But in those 
where this calamitous malady is united with poverty and pinching want, it 
is barely within the bounds of probability that the patient should recover. 
There is then but one alternative-£condemn your needy citizens to become 
the life-long victims of a terrible disease, or provide remedial care in a 
State HospitaO Let this be established on a comfortable, but strictly eco- 
nomical foundation. Expend not one dollar on tasteful architectural deco- 
rations. In this establishment, let nothing be for ornament, but every thing 
for use. Choose your location where the most good can be accomplished ef- 
fectually, at the least cost. Let economy only not degenerate into mean- 
ness. Every dollar indiscreetly applied is a robbery of the poor and needy 
and adds a darker shade to the vice of extravagance, in misappropriation of 
the public funds. 

Choose a healthful situation where you can command at least one hun- 
dred acres, and better if a larger tract, of productive land, mostly capable of 
cultivation. Let the supply and access to pure water be ample and conve- 
nient : also consider the cost of fuel, which is a large item, in the annual 
expenses. Furnish your establishment by means chiefly of convict labour, 
from your two state penitentiaries, with mattresses, bed-clothing, chairs, 
&c. &c. You thus secure a sale for their work, and get good articles at 
reasonable cost for your own use. You will recollect that at some future 
time other hospitals will be needed and demanded, but let the location of 
the first have reference to sparing as far as possible to the poor at large, the 
heavy charge of travelling expenses. A substantial brick or unhewn stone 
building, not more than three stories high with the basement, to save labour, 
and the consequent multiplying of attendants, having the officers' apartments 
in the c entre, and those of the male and female patients in the two wings re- 
spectively, will be found most commodious. Numerous minor considerations 
will, at a suitable time, receive a share of attention. But one thing should not 
be overlooked in a hospital designed to benefit the people at large. In this 



mm 



46 



state it must be recollected that the medical superintendent, the governing, 
resident physician, who alone can be head of such an institution, and also his 
assistant, must have practical acquaintance with both the German and Eng- 
lish languages, which are spoken in this commonwealth. Nearly half the in- 
sane of the lower classes, east of the mountains, are Germans, and cannot, in 
general, utter a sentence of English ; and the medical adviser would find 
no little embarrassment in directing the moral training and treatment of his 
patients, except he could speak their language fluently, and was familiar, 
by residence and practice, with some of their peculiarities and local cus- 
toms. I have perceived the importance and value of this, from being fre- 
quently accompanied to the poor-house hospitals by the attending physicians, 
and as they have mixed with the inmates, addressing one in one language, 
one in another, I have seen that in a State Hospital for the Insane in Penn- 
sylvania, it is absolutely necessary to possess these qualifications in order to 
be really successful. 

If the mere outward manifestations of disease were to be studied and de- 
cided on, if no other influence were to reach the patient than a medical pre- 
scription for a symptom which could not be mistaken, it would be of little 
consequence in what language the physician conversed, or whether he pos- 
sessed at all the gift of speech ; but as much beside is to be embraced in 
intelligent, skilful hospital practice, your physician for the State Asylum 
must speak readily the two languages of the country, at least. The medi- 
cal superintendent of a hospital for the insane, needs not only a quick per- 
ceptive faculty in detecting the characterizing symptoms of the various 
forms of this malady, but adding to this an acquaintance with the social ha- 
bits of both the German and English classes, he should possess energy, 
promptness of action, and ready determination ; he should have active busi- 
ness habits, and devotion to his profession. The very onerous duties which 
devolve on him will not nourish self-indulgence, or allow leisure for various 
pursuits : he must consecrate himself to the work, and he must concentrate 
all his energies, physical and mental, to promote the success and prosperity 
of the institution; making it, so far as human means are concerned, an asy- 
lum where the curable may find health, and the incurable alleviation and 
solace for their sufferings. 

Gentlemen, of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, I appeal to your hearts and 
your understanding ; to your moral and to your intellectual perceptions ; I 
appeal to you as legislators and as citizens; I appeal to you as men, and as 
fathers, sons, and brothers ; spare, I pray you, by wise [and merciful legis- 
lation now, those many, who if you deny the means of curative treatment 
and recovery to health, will by your decisions and on your responsibility 
be condemned to irrecoverable, irremediable insanity ; to worse than use- 
lessness and grinding dependence ; to pain and misery, and abject, brutal- 
izing conditions, too terrible to contemplate ; too horrible to relate ! 

Grant to the exceeding urgency of their case, what you would rightly 
refuse to expediency alone. Benevolent citizens of your commonwealth 
were the first of civilized people to establish a society for alleviating the 
miseries of prisons ; shall Pennsylvanians be last and least in manifesting 
sensibility to the wants of the poverty-stricken maniac ] Is the claim of the 
Lunatic less than that of the Criminal ? Are the spiritual and physical 
wants of the guilty to be more humanely ministered to, than the bodily and 
mental necessities of the insane ? You pause long, and hesitate to con- 
demn to death the blood-stained murderer ; will you less relentingly con- 
demn to a living-death, the unoffending victims of a dreadful malady ? 

The wise and illustrious Founder of Pennsylvania, laid broad the basis of 
her government in justice and integrity : now — while her sons with recov- 
ering strength, are replacing the shaken Keystone of the Arch, may they, 
as in the beginning, find their Salvation, — Truth, and their Palladium, — 
Righteousness ! 

Respectfully submitted, D. L. DIX. 

Harrisburg, February 3, 1845. 



APPENDIX. 



Table showing the comparative expense of supporting old and recent 
cases of insanity, from which we learn the economy of placing patients 
in institutions in the early periods of disease ; from the report of the 
Massachusetts State Hospital. 



ta 




.2 


Total expense, at 






# c 




QJ 
CO 
CS 


6 


0) 


£100 a year, be- 


a ba 


. 


•N 




O 


< 




fore entering the 
hospital, and £132 


U es 


ba 

es 


es 

a • 


3 V 


Cm 

o 


C 

en 
03 


as a 


a year since ; last 
year £120. 


Q3 ''B 
g 0> 


0) 

CD 

a 


M 


to C* 


© 








3 es 


u 


.5 ^ 


O M 


fc 


Ph 


H 




fej « 


Ph 


H 


O 


2 


69 


28 


$3,212 00 


1,622 


30 


7 


$16 10 


7 


48 


17 


2,004 00 


1,624 


34 


20 


46 00 


8 


60 


21 


2,504 00 


1,625 


51 


32 


73 60 


12 


47 


25 


2,894 00 


1,635 


23 


28 


64 40 


18 


71 


34 


3,794 00 


1,642 


42 


40 


92 00 


19 


59 


18 


2,204 00 


1,643 


55 


14 


32 20 


21 


39 


16 


1,993 00 


1,645 


63 


36 


82 80 


27 


47 


16 


1,994 00 


1,649 


22 


40 


92 00 


44 


56 


26 


2,982 00 


1,650 


36 


28 


64 40 


45 


60 


25 


2,835 00 


1,658 


36 


14 


32 20 


102 


53 


25 


2,833 00 


1,660 


21 


16 


36 80 


133 


44 


13 


1,431 00 


1,661 


19 


27 


62 10 


176 


55 


20 


2,486 00 


1,672 


40 


11 


25 70 


209 


39 


16 


1,964 00 


1,676 


23 


23 


52 90 


223 


50 


20 


2,364 00 


1,688 


23 


11 


25 70 


260 


47 


16 


2,112 00 


1,690 


23 


27 


62 10 


278 


49 


10 


1,424 00 


1,691 


37 


20 


46 00 


319 


53 


10 


1,247 00 


1,699 


30 


28 


64 40 


347 


58 


14 


1,644 00 


1,705 


24 


17 


39 10 


367 


40 


.12 


1,444 00 


1,706 


55 


10 


23 00 


400 


43 


14 


1,644 00 


1,709 


17 


10 


23 00 


425 


48 


13 


2,112 00 


1,715 


19 


40 


92 00 


431 


36 


13 


1,412 00 


1,716 


35 


48 


110 00 


435 


55 


15 


1,712 00 


1,728 


52 


55 


126 00 


488 


37 


17 


1,912 00 


1,737 


30 


33 


75 90 




454 


$54,157 00 


635 


$1,461 30 



Average expense of old cases, - 

Whole expense of twenty-five old cases, 

Average expense of recent cases, .- 

Whole expense of twenty-five recent cases till recovered, 



$ 2,166 20 

54,157 00 

58 45 

1,461 30 



4 



48 



From Dr. Awl's reports of the Ohio Institution, we extract the following 
tables : 

In the report of 1840, the number of years that the twenty-five old cases 
had been insane, was 413 ; the whole expense of their support during- that 
time, $47,590; the average, $1,903 60. The time that the twenty-five 
recent cases had been confined, was 556 weeks ; the expense $1,400 ; the 
average 



In 1841, whole cost of twenty-five old cases, 
Average, - - - 

Whole cost of twenty-five recent cases, 
Average, - - - - 

In 1842, whole expense of twenty-five old cases, 
Average, - - - i - 

Whole expense of twenty-five recent cases, 
Average, - - - ' 



$49,248 00 

1,969 00 

1,330 50 

52 22 



$50,611 00 

2,020 00 

1,130 00 

"45 20 



In this Institution, in 1843, twenty old cases had cost, 
Average cost of old cases, - 

Whole expense of twenty recent cases, till recovered, 
Average cost of recent cases, - 



$44,782 00 

2,239 10 

1,308 30 

65 41 



In the Massachusetts State Lunatic Asylum, in 1843, twenty- 
five old cases had cost, 
Average expense of old cases, - 

Whole expense of twenty-five recent cases, till recovered, 
Average expense of recent cases, - 



$54,157 00 

2,166 20 

1,461 30 

58 45 



In the Ohio Lunatic Asylum, in 1844, twenty-five old cases 

had cost, ------ $35,464 00 

Average expense of old cases, - - - 1,418 56 

Whole expense of twenty-five recent cases, - - 1,608 00 

Average expense of recent cases, - - - 64 32 



In the Maine Lunatic Hospital, in 1842, twelve old cases had 

cost, - . - - - - - - $25,300 00 

Average expense of old cases, - - - - 2,108 33 

Whole expense of twelve recentcases, - 426 00 

Average expense of recent cases, - - - 35 50 



In the Hospital at Staunton, Va., twenty old cases had cost, $41,633 00 

Average expense of old cases, - - - - 2,081 65 

Whole expense of twenty recent cases, - - - 1,265 00 

Average expense of recent cases, - 63 25 



The results of this table are so striking, and show so conclusively the 
importance of the early admission to the insane hospitals, that many other 
institutions have instituted the same inquiry with similar results. 



49 



Table (from Dr. AwVs Sixth Report for 1844,, f ofthe State Hospital, at Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,) showing the comparative expense of supporting old and 
recent cases of insanity. 



o5 
o> 
to 
a 




years, 
ty be- 
>sion. 


port be- 
ssion, at 
eek. 


a 
<u 
a 




3.2 

d to 

OT tfi 

■si 




CO 

as 


o 

'o 
o 
6 


ba 
as 

& 

<& 
m 

<U 
U 


a ■- .s 

■ H (3 rt 

o c <^ 

P 


o <u 
O 


o 

t-l . 

a a 


b 

< 


o es 

.2 § 

«J a) 


6 

■S.g 

<d a j 


s & 
a 


1 


42 


18 


$1,872 00 


1 


29 


1 month. 


20 


$60 00 


2 


45 


11 


1,144 00 


2 


22 


6 * 




18 


54 00 


3 


35 


13 


1,352 00 


3 


35 


5 ' 




15 


45 00 


4 


40 


12 


1,248 00 


4 


26 


4 ■ 




9 


27 00 


5 


38 


15 


1,560 00 


5 


41 


8 ' 




43 


129 00 


6 


38 


10 


1,040 00 


6 


37 


5 ' 




16 


48 00 


7 


42 


10 


1,040 00 


7 


27 


7 ' 




59 


177 00 


8 


40 


15 


1,560 00 


8 


34 


4 ■ 




15 


45 00 


9 


40 


20 


2,080 00 


9 


31 


1 < 




18 


54 00 


10 


40 


9 


936 00 


10 


22 


9 ' 




13 


39 00 


11 


50 


10 


1,040 00 


11 


18 


1 week. 


11 


33 00 


12 


48 


11 


1,144 00 


12 


29 


2 months. 


52 


156 00 


13 


45 


9 


936 00 


13 


23 


5 < 




25 


75 00 


14 


35 


10 


1,040 00 


14 


24 


8 < 




5 


15 00 


15 


57 


27 


2,808 00 


15 


28 


2 < 




13 


39 00 


16 


57 


10 


1,040 00 


16 


45 


4 < 




14 


42 00 


17 


28 


13 


1,352 00 


17 


28 


4 ' 




26 


78 00 


18 


49 


21 


2,184 00 


18 


41 


1 ' 




23 


69 00 


19 


43 


15 


1,560 00 


19 


24 


3 < 




15 


45 00 


20 


45 


10 


1,040 00 


20 


32 


2 ' 




15 


45 00 


21 


29 


14 


1,456 00 


21 


20 


5 ' 




33 


99 00 


22 


33 


10 


1,040 00 


22 


20 


8 ' 




29 


87 00 


23 


40 


28 


2,912 00 


23 


21 


5 ' 




8 


24 00 


24 


39 


10 


1,040 00 


24 


31 


5 days. 


16 


48 00 


25 


40 


10 


1,040 00 


25 


25 


10 months. 


25 


75 00 




$35,464 00 


$1,608 00 



Average number of years for each case before admission into the asy- 
lum, 13f. 
Average number of weeks spent in the asylum, 21 J. 
Average cost of each case before admission into the asylum, $1,418 56. 
Average cost of each recovery in the asylum, $64 32. 



50 



AN ACT 

To establish an Asylum for the Insane Poor of this Commonwealth, to be 
called " The Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital and Union Asylum 
for the Insane." 

Sectiox 1. — Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That Jacob M. Haldeman, Luther Reify, 
Hugh Campbell, Charles B. Trego, and Joseph Konigmacher, be and they are here- 
by appointed Commissioners to select and purchase a tract of not less than one hun- 
dred acres, situated within ten miles of Harrisburg, which said tract of land shall 
not cost more than ten thousand dollars, shall have a never-failing supply of water 
on the premises, and be conveniently situated for receiving supplies of fuel : Provi- 
ded, That the said Commissioners shall receive no compensation for their services, 
other than their necessary expenses : And Provided also, That if any person or 
persons shall make a gift of such a tract, the said Commissioners are hereby author- 
ized to receive a deed for the same, in trust for the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hos- 
pital, and the sum of fifteen thousand dollars is hereby appropriated for the purpose 
of erecting and constructing the hereinafter described building and buildings : Pro- 
vided, That the said fifteen thousand dollars shall not be paid until the conveyance 
of the aforesaid tract of land shall have been made as provided for in this section : 
Provided also, That the sum hereby appropriated shall be retained by the State 
Treasurer out of the amount of relief notes, to be cancelled on the thirty-first of July, 
one thousand eight hundred and forty-five. 

Sec 2. — At any time after said site shall be obtained by the said Commission- 
ers, not exceeding three months, they shall contract for the erection of said asylum, 
on the most approved plan, on such terms as are just and prudent : Provided, That 
said Hospital building shall be constructed in the most approved manner, of brick or 
unhewn stone ; the foundations to be substantial, and of rough mason work ; the 
basements above ground of hammered stone; water-table, window and door sills, 
window and door caps, and door steps of the same material ; partition walls to be 
brick, and to contain flues for ventilators, furnace flues for heating, and also water- 
pipes if necessary ; the roof to be of slate or tin-plate fire-proof. 

Sec. 3. — Said Commissioners shall, on or before the first day of January one 
thousand eight hundred and forty-six, and on the first day of January annually 
thereafter, until the buildings are completed respectively, render to the proper ac- 
counting officers of the Commonwealth, an exact account of all the contracts, expen- 
ses and liabilities which they shall have incurred, or authorized in the execution of 
their commissions, with vouchers for the same; and in case of their failure so to 
do, their authority to draw on the State Treasurer for such sum or sums of money 
as shall hereafter be specified shall cease; and said Commissioners shall so build, fin- 
ish and furnish said asylum, that the whole cost of said buildings and furniture, with 
suitable apparatus for heating the rooms, for cooking, and for furnishing water for 
all the uses of the establishment, to accommodate two hundred and fifty patients, 
and the necessary attendants, shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars: And provided 
ako, That the Commissioners appointed by this act, before entering upon their du- 
ties, shall give bond with such security as may be required by the executive for the 
faithful and proper application of the funds placed in their hands and performance 
of their duties. 

Sec 4. — The treasurer is hereby directed to pay to the said Commissioners, on 
the warrant of the Governor, out of any moneys that may be in the treasury, not 
otherwise appropriated, such sum or sums of money as they may require for build- 
ing said asylum, together with the necessary outbuildings, and the complete finish- 
ing and furnishing of the same, not exceeding in the whole the said sum of fifteen 
thousand dollars, at such times as they may be wanted, the expenditure thereof to 
be accounted for to the Auditor General of the Commonwealth. 



51 

Sec 5. — The Governor shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, appoint nine persons to be trustees of the said institution, who shall 
be a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of the " Trustees of the Penn- 
sylvania State Lunatic Hospital and Union Asylum for the Insane," and shall manage 
and direct the concerns of the institution, and make all necessary by-laws and regulations 
not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth; and shall 
have power to receive, hold, dispose of, and convey all real and personal property 
conveyed to them by gift, devise, or otherwise, for the use of said institution, and 
shall serve without compensation ; of those first appointed, three shall serve for one 
year, three for two years, three for three years, and at the expiration of the respec- 
tive periods, the vacancies to be filled by appointments for three years ; and should 
any vacancy occur by death, resignation or otherwise, of any trustee, such vacancy 
shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired time of said trustee. The said 
trustees shall have charge of the general interests of the institution ; they shall ap- 
point the Superintendent who shall be a skilful physician, subject to removal or re- 
election no oftener than in periods of ten years, except by infidelity to the trust re- 
posed in him or for incompetency — said physician shall always reside in the asylum, 
he shall be a married man, and his family shall reside with him ; the trus- 
tees by and with the consent of the Governor, shall make such by-laws and regula- 
tions for the government of the asylum as shall be necessary ; they shall appoint a 
treasurer, who shall give bonds to the Commonwealth for the faithful discharge of 
his duties ; they shall determine his compensation for services, also the salaries of 
the other officers and assistants, who may be necessary for the just and economical 
administration of the affairs of said hospital. 

Sec 6. — The superintending physician shall appoint and exercise entire control 
over all subordinate officers and assistants in the institution, and shall have entire di- 
rection of the duties of the same. 

Sec 7. The said trustees and their successors in office, shall have power to take 
and hold in trust, for the use and benefit of said asylum, any grant or . devise of 
land, and any donation or bequest of money, or other personal property to be ap- 
plied to the maintenance of insane persons, in or to the general use of the asylum. 

Sec 8. — The admission of insane patients from the several counties of the Com- 
monwealth, shall be in the ratio of their insane population : Provided, That each 
county shall be entitled to send at least one insane patient. 

Sec 9. — Indigent persons and paupers shall be charged for medical attendance, 
board and nursing, while residents in the hospital, no more than the actual cost ; 
paying patients, whose friends can pay their expenses, and who are not chargeable 
upon townships or counties, shall pay according to the terms directed by the trus- 
tees. 

Sec 10. — The Courts of this Commonwealth shall have power to commit to said 
asylum any person who having been charged with an offence punishable by impri- 
sonment or death, who shall have been found to have been insane, in the manner 
now provided by law, at the time the offence was committed, and who still continues 
insane, and the expenses of said persons, if in indigent circumstances, shall be paid 
by the county to which he or she may belong by residence. 

Sec 11. — That it shall be the duty of the Court, in all cases where they shall 
commit any person to the asylum to certify to the trustees the legal settlement of 
such person, if he or she have any legal settlement in this Commonwealth; and if 
such person shall have no such settlement, then to certify the place of residence of 
such person at the time of offence committed, on application made, and the poor dis- 
trict so certified to be the place of settlement or residence of such person, shall be 
chargeable with the expenses of his or her care and maintenance, and removal to 
and from said asylum : Provided, That the settlement or residence of any such per- 
son shall not be so certified, until after due notice shall have been given to the con- 
stituted authority having charge of poor in the district to be charged thereby. 

Sec 12. — The several constituted authorities having care and charge of the poor 
in the respective counties, districts and townships of this Commonwealth, shall 
have authority to send to the asylum such insane paupers under their charge as they 
may deem proper subjects ; and they shall be severally chargeable with the expen- 
ses of the care, and maintenance, and removal to and from the asylum, of such pau- 
pers. 



52 



Sec 13. — If the guardian, directors, or overseers of the poor, to whom any pa- 
tient who shall be in the asylum is chargeable, shall neglect or refuse, upon demand 
made, to pay to the trustees the expenses of the care, maintenance and removal of 
such patient, and also, in the event of death, of the funeral expenses of such pa- 
tient, the said trustees are hereby authorized and empowered to collect the same as 
debts of a like nature are now collected. 

Sec. 14. — That if any person shall apply to any Court of record within this 
Commonwealth, having jurisdiction of offences which are punishable by imprison- 
ment for the term of ninety days or longer, for the commitment to the said asylum 
of any insane person within the county in which such Court has jurisdiction, it 
shall be the duty of the said Court to inquire into the fact of insanity in the man- 
ner provided by law ; and if such Court shall be satisfied that such person is, by 
reason of insanity, unsafe to be at large, or is suffering any unnecessary duresse or 
hardship, such Court shall, on the application aforesaid, commit such insane person 
to said asylum. 

Sec 15. — In order of admission, the indigent insane of this Commonwealth shall 
always have precedence of the rich ; and while the finances of the State do not per- 
mit ample provisions for all cases of insanity, recent cases shall have preference over 
those of long standing. 

Sec 16. The Governor, Judges of the several Courts of record in the Common- 
wealth, and the members of the Legislature, shall be ex officio visiters of the insti- 
tution. 

Sec 17. — That the Commissioners appointed by the first section of this act, are 
hereby authorized and required to appoint a committee of five, in every city and 
county of this Commonwealth, to solicit and receive private subscriptions for this 
laudable and benevolent object, and from time to time pay the same over to the 
State Treasurer, and the State Treasurer is hereby directed to pay to the Commis- 
sioners aforesaid all such sum or sums of money thus received to aid in the erection 
of said asylum. 

FINDLEY PATTERSON, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
WILLIAM P. WILCOX, 

Speaker of the Senate. 

Approved — The fourteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty- 
five. 

FRS. R. SHUNK. 



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